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5 Things to Know Today (Oct. 1): Minimum Wage Hike, Cooler U.S. Inflation, Oil Below $100

  Thursday October 1, 2026 A new quarter, a higher minimum wage in Ontario and a softer inflation read south of the border. Here are the five things that matter to your wallet today. 1 Ontario's minimum wage rises to $17.95 today Ontario's general minimum wage climbs 35 cents, from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour, as of October 1 — a roughly 2% bump tied to Ontario's CPI. The student rate goes to $16.90 (from $16.60) and the homeworker rate to $19.70. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week earns about $718 a week before deductions. Federally regulated workers already have an $18.15 floor, which has applied since April 1. What it means for you: If you pay anyone by the hour — a cleaner, a part-time helper, a seasonal worker — hours worked from today forward must be paid at no less than $17.95, even if the pay period started in September. Workers should check their next paycheque. 2 Cooler U.S. inflation eases the pressure on rate hikes The Fed's preferred inflation gauge came i...

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Wall Street Closes 12th Winning Week in Last 13 Despite Mixed Finish

 

Wall Street closed its 12th winning week in the last 13 despite a mixed finish on Friday. The S&P 500 finished nearly unchanged for the day, down 0.36, or less than 0.1%, at 4,719.19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% to 36,329.84, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.5% to 15,965.50. The mixed finish came after a week of strong earnings reports from major companies, including Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet. The reports helped push the S&P 500 to a new record high earlier in the week. However, concerns about inflation and rising interest rates weighed on the market, leading to a mixed finish on Friday.

Despite the mixed finish, the stock market has been on an upward trend, with Wall Street closing its 12th winning week in the last 13. The strong earnings reports from major companies have helped boost investor confidence, leading to a surge in the S&P 500 index. However, concerns about inflation and rising interest rates have also been on the rise, leading to a mixed finish on Friday.

Overall, the stock market has been performing well, with investors optimistic about the future. While there are concerns about inflation and rising interest rates, the strong earnings reports from major companies have helped boost investor confidence. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how the stock market performs in the coming weeks and months.

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