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5 Things to Know Today: Your Canadian Money Brief — June 2, 2026

  Tuesday, June 2, 2026  |  MoneySavings.ca Markets are mixed, a big government cheque is days away, and the Bank of Canada is just over a week from its next rate call. Here's what every Canadian should have on their radar this morning. 1 of 5 TSX Inches Lower as Gold Slips and Financials Feel the Heat The S&P/TSX Composite closed Monday at 34,735 points, down about 0.10% from Friday's session. It was a tale of two sectors: financials dragged on the index as RBC and TD each lost close to 1%, with CIBC shedding nearly 2%, while gold miners also pulled back — Agnico Eagle fell 3.5% and Barrick dropped close to 3%. On the bright side, energy stocks surged as oil prices rallied, with Canadian Natural Resources up nearly 3% and Suncor gaining over 3%. Shopify also climbed roughly 2% on enthusiasm around AI chip advances. Year-to-date, the TSX is up about 9.5% — trailing Japan's Nikkei (+31.8%) but ahead of the S&P 500 (+11.0%) for the period through June 1. 💡 Money Ti...
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Japan Sinks into Recession and Loses Its Position in the Global Economy

 

In a significant economic shift, Japan has slipped from its position as the world’s third-largest economy, falling behind Germany. The latest government data reveals that Japan’s economy contracted in the last quarter of 2023, leading to this change in ranking.

For over a decade, Japan held the second spot, but it ceded that position to China. Now, it faces another setback as Germany surpasses it. Here are the key points:

  1. Economic Contraction: Japan’s real GDP shrank by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2023, primarily due to weak spending by households and businesses. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of economic activity, fell by 0.2% as households grappled with rising living costs and stagnant wages.

  2. Yen’s Impact: The sharp decline of the Japanese yen against the US dollar over the past two years played a crucial role. A weaker yen affects export profits when earnings are repatriated. Germany, too, faces similar challenges, despite being Europe’s largest economy.

  3. Structural Reforms Needed: Japan’s labor crunch is worse than Germany’s, and addressing the low birthrate remains a challenge. The government emphasizes structural reforms, including promoting full-time work for women and easing barriers to foreign investment.

  4. Technical Recession: With two consecutive quarters of contraction, Japan officially enters a technical recession. The country must navigate economic headwinds while welcoming a record number of foreign workers.

While the loss of its global ranking is a blow, Japan remains resilient. As it grapples with demographic shifts and economic complexities, policymakers strive to steer the nation toward sustainable growth.


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