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Canada Groceries & Essentials Benefit: Free Money Hits Your Account June 5 — Are You Getting Yours?

If you're a low- or modest-income Canadian, there's a very good chance the government is about to deposit money directly into your bank account — on June 5, 2026 — with zero application required. It's called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) , and it's replacing the old GST/HST credit with a bigger, better payout. The first step? A one-time bonus payment arriving in less than two weeks. Here's everything you need to know to make sure you don't miss it. What Exactly Is This Payment? The federal government is transitioning away from the GST/HST Credit and launching the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) starting July 2026. As a bridge to that new program, every current GST/HST credit recipient will receive a one-time lump-sum top-up on June 5, 2026 — equal to 50% of their annual 2025–26 GST/HST credit . Think of it as a bonus cheque (or direct deposit) to help you cover rising grocery and essentials costs right now, before the n...

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S&P 500 Inches Closer to Record High Amid Optimism About Fed’s Policy and Year-End Effect

 

The S&P 500 index closed just shy of a new record high on Thursday, with the broad index gaining 0.04%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.03%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%. Markets are ending 2023 on a hot streak, with all three indexes on pace for a ninth consecutive weekly gain. For the S&P 500, that would mark the longest streak since January 2004. The index is now within 0.3% of its all-time high, set in January 2022. With one trading session remaining in 2023, the S&P 500 is up 25%.

Investors are optimistic that the Federal Reserve can successfully cool inflation without inducing a major economic slowdown, which has powered the market’s recent advance. Now, some investors say the looming end of the calendar year is giving markets an extra boost. “Nobody who has caught this rally wants to incur a taxable event,” said Michael Green, chief strategist at Simplify Asset Management. “If nobody wants to sell, prices will push higher on low volume”.

The jobless claims data released by the Labor Department on Thursday indicated a gradual cooling of the economy. Initial jobless claims, considered a proxy for layoffs, were 218,000 in the week ending Dec. 23, slightly more than the 215,000 that economists expected.

Bond yields rose as prices fell, reflecting expectations of higher inflation and interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.849%, up from 3.7%.

Some investors are increasing their exposure to energy and industrial stocks, which could benefit from a strong economic recovery. Matt Dmytryszyn, chief investment officer at Telemus Capital, said his fund is boosting its position in shares of energy and industrial firms.


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