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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...
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How Enbridge, Open Text and other stocks moved on Wednesday


The stock market saw some notable movements on Wednesday, as several companies reported their earnings or made strategic announcements. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Enbridge (ENB-T) rose 1.2 per cent after it forecast higher core earnings and raised its dividend for 2024. The pipeline operator expects higher demand and volumes across its network, as well as lower costs and capital spending. The company also said it had secured funding for over 75 per cent of its US$9.4-billion bid to buy three utilities from Dominion Energy.
  • Open Text (OTEX-T) increased 1 per cent after it sold off a mainframe-computer business it acquired earlier this year from Micro Focus for US$2.275-billion. The company said it would use the proceeds to improve its financial position and focus on its cloud and artificial intelligence businesses. Analysts said the divestiture would enhance Open Text’s valuation and profitability.
  • Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD-T) slid 3.2 per cent despite reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results The convenience store and gas station operator saw solid fuel margins and cost control, but also faced softening in U.S. same-store sales due to lower cigarette sales and consumer spending. The company tightened its full-year profit outlook.
  • First Quantum Minerals (FM-T) sustained further declines after Panama’s president said its copper mine Cobre Panama would be shut down, following a Supreme Court ruling that declared its contract unconstitutional The company said it had suspended commercial production at the mine and was putting it into care and maintenance. The ruling puts the company on the long and unpredictable road of international arbitration.
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