ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s co-ruling Democratic Party (PD) will not let Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri be shunted aside in any cabinet reshuffle that might arise from the ongoing government crisis, political sources said on Monday.
Separately, a source who had spoken with President Sergio Mattarella — the man tasked with finding a solution to the turmoil — said the head of state wanted “continuity” in the main ministries, including the economy, health and defence portfolios.
Political sources have said the small Italia Viva party, which triggered the crisis by pulling out of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s cabinet, wanted Gualtieri to leave his post as part of an eventual deal to stitch back together the coalition.
The former government allies are holding talks to try and overcome their differences and revive their alliance.
Italia Viva, headed by former prime minister Matteo Renzi, has repeatedly criticised Conte’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his plans for spending more than 200 billion euros ($243 billion) from a European Union fund to help the economy.
Renzi has not publicly criticised Gualtieri and has repeatedly refused to talk openly about any eventual reshuffle, saying it was important to focus instead on policies.
However, party sources have said Italia Viva is unhappy with Gualtieri, who is a top PD figure, and Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede, a member of the co-ruling 5-Star Movement.
A PD minister, who declined to be named, said the party would not let Gualtieri be pushed aside.
“Renzi kicks up four or five dust storms, but then settles back on more achievable goals.”
Ettore Rosato, a leading Italia Viva lawmaker, denied that his party wanted to force out Gualtieri.
“There is no veto against anyone. This is not a problem of people (but) we want discontinuity of political approach compared to the past,” he told Radio 24 on Monday.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni, Angelo Amante, Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Gavin Jones)
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
