Here are the CP Business Department's plans for today and the top business stories so far. All times Eastern unless otherwise stated. All ETAs and wordcounts approximate. Entries are subject to change as news develops.

If you have any questions, please contact Kate Hopwood at 416-507-2151 or kate.hopwood@thecanadianpress.com, or Jody White at jody.white@thecanadianpress.com. You can always reach the desk at business@thecanadianpress.com or 416-507-2138.

———

COVERING:

We'll have more on December jobs numbers from Statistics Canada.

Amanda Stephenson will have an update on how the Omicron wave is affecting the country’s agriculture sector.

And Brett Bundale looks at the issues surrounding renewed calls for hero pay at Canada's largest grocers.

———

TOP STORIES:

CP NewsAlert: Economy added 55K jobs in December

StatCan-Jobs

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Statistics Canada says the economy added 55,000 jobs in December. Words: 32, Photos: 1

--

US employers add 199,000 jobs as unemployment falls to 3.9%

US-Economy-Jobs-Report

U.S. employers added a modest 199,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate fell sharply, at a time when businesses are struggling to fill jobs, with many Americans remaining reluctant to return to the workforce. The Labor Department said Friday that the nation’s unemployment rate fell to a healthy 3.9% from 4.2% in November.  

--

Chinese anti-virus lockdowns add to concerns over economy

AS-Virus-Outbreak-China-Economy

China’s lockdowns of big cities to fight coronavirus outbreaks are prompting concerns about more disruptions for the economy after two makers of processor chips said their factories were affected. That adds to unease over the omicron variant’s global economic impact. Analysts warn Vietnam, Thailand and other countries important for manufacturing chains might impose anti-disease measures that would delay deliveries. The Chinese economy already was cooling under pressure from unrelated official efforts to force real estate developers and other companies to reduce surging levels of debt that has fueled China’s boom over the past two decades.

--

World shares turn lower after tech-led decline on Wall St

Financial-Markets

World markets have turned lower, tracking a retreat on Wall Street led by declines in big technology stocks. Shares fell in Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Shanghai but rose in Hong Kong. U.S. futures also slipped. On Thursday, the S&P 500 wobbled between gains and losses for much of the day before shedding 0.1%.

———

CALENDAR:

Statistics Canada to release its labour force survey for December.

CP BUSINESS

The Canadian Press