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Trump Pushes Iran Strike Deadline Into April Amid Intensifying Regional Tensions

Onlookers watch from a window the site of a residential building damaged by a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 27, 2026.  U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its energy infrastructure, moving the cutoff to April 6 at 8 p.m. EDT (April 7 GMT) . The decision follows Tehran’s rejection of a 15‑point U.S. proposal aimed at ending the conflict, which has already spread across the Middle East and disrupted global energy markets.  The conflict, now in its fourth week, has resulted in thousands of casualties and sent oil and fertilizer prices soaring, fueling global inflation concerns. The United States and Israel began striking Iranian targets on February 28 after nuclear negotiations failed to produce a deal. Trump stated that talks are “going very well,” though Iran denies any direct engagement with Washington.  Trump’s extension comes after he previously pau...

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TSX gains on hopes of rate hike pause

 

The TSX closed slightly higher on Wednesday, as some sectors that benefit from lower interest rates rose amid signs that central banks may not tighten monetary policy further. The Canadian and U.S. economies added fewer jobs than expected in October, easing inflation fears and boosting bond prices. The TSX composite index ended up 3.5 points, or 0.02%, at 20,264.59.

The financials sector, which accounts for about a third of the TSX’s weight, gained 0.6%, as lower bond yields reduce borrowing costs and increase the value of future cash flows. The real estate sector, which is also sensitive to interest rates, climbed 1.2%, while the consumer discretionary sector, which includes retailers and auto parts makers, rose 0.9%

The energy sector, however, fell 1.1%, as oil prices dropped 2.4% to $80.51 a barrel, amid concerns about rising U.S. crude inventories and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global demand. The materials sector, which includes miners and fertilizer producers, also declined 0.7%, as base metal and gold prices retreated.

For the week, the TSX was down 0.4%, as a jump in bond yields earlier in the week weighed on interest-rate sensitive sectors such as technology and utilities. The TSX is still up 18.6% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500, which is up 15.8%.

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