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Markets Brace for BoC Decision After Brutal Friday Selloff

Canadian and global markets are attempting to stabilize this Monday morning after a punishing end to last week — and with one of the most closely watched Bank of Canada rate decisions in recent memory arriving in just two days, investors have plenty to keep them on edge. What Happened Friday Friday's selloff was sharp and broad. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite tumbled 4.18% — its steepest single-day decline since April 2025 — closing at 25,709. The S&P 500 fell 2.64% to 7,383, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost roughly 695 points (−1.35%) to end at 50,866. The catalyst was a brutal rotation out of chip stocks. Broadcom had already disappointed investors mid-week by failing to raise its AI chip guidance, and the selling gathered momentum on Friday. Marvell Technology and Micron plunged approximately 16% and 13%, respectively, while Nvidia, Intel, and AMD all shed between 6% and 11%. Compounding the pain: a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report for May pushed Treas...

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New Ontario real estate rules give sellers more options

 

Ontario has introduced new rules for real estate transactions that aim to provide more clarity and choice for buyers and sellers. The rules, which took effect on Friday, include the following changes:

  • Open bidding option: Sellers can now choose to disclose the prices of submitted bids to potential buyers, instead of keeping them secret. This is supposed to make the bidding process more transparent and fair, but it is not mandatory. Some experts say open bidding could reduce overbidding and lower prices, while others say it could have the opposite effect or harm sellers’ interests.
  • Designated representation: Buyers and sellers can now choose a designated representative from the same brokerage, instead of being subject to multiple representation. This means that the agent can advocate more actively for their client, instead of acting as a facilitator with limited advice. This is supposed to avoid conflicts of interest and improve the quality of service.
  • Improved disclosures: Brokers and brokerages have to provide more information to their clients, such as their role, duties, and fees. They also have to give them an information guide from the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), the regulatory body that oversees the industry. RECO also has new enforcement tools to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
  • Amended code of ethics: Agents have to follow an updated code of ethics that reflects the new rules and promotes professionalism and ethical conduct.

The new rules are part of Phase 2 of the changes under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, which was passed in 2019. The federal government has also promised to end blind bidding as part of its home buyers’ bill of rights, but it is still consulting with stakeholders.

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