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Weekly Market Snapshot: Records Everywhere as a Blowout Canadian Jobs Report Meets a Shock U.S. Loss

  August 8, 2026 A short, holiday-shortened week still managed to deliver record after record. The TSX, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, and Europe's major indices all closed the week at or near all-time highs — even as Friday's jobs numbers told two very different stories on either side of the border. Here's everything that moved your money this week, and what to watch next. The Bottom Line The TSX capped its biggest weekly advance in about four months, closing Friday at a record 36,381.23 after Canada added a blowout 75,100 jobs in July (versus 17,800 expected). Wall Street also hit fresh records — but for the opposite reason: US employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs, which markets read as reducing the odds of any further Fed rate hikes. Add in a fourth straight record close for European stocks, a wild swing in oil, and gold pushing toward US$4,400/oz, and it was a week where almost every major asset class ended up higher. 🇨🇦 Canada: TSX's Best Week Since April Canadia...
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Markets Rally: S&P 500 Hits Record High Amid Recovery






On Thursday, the S&P/TSX composite index surged 333.29 points, closing at 21,222.69, marking a 1.6% gain. The energy sector led the charge, propelling Canada’s main stock index to new heights. But it wasn’t just the Great White North celebrating; across the border, U.S. markets also joined the party.

The S&P 500, a bellwether for American equities, etched a fresh all-time high. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average climbed 348.85 points, reaching 38,773.12. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite danced upward by 47.03 points, settling at 15,906.17.

What’s fueling this market resurgence? Mixed messages from inflation readings have been playing a game of tug-of-war with investor sentiment. Earlier this week, hotter-than-expected U.S. CPI numbers triggered a selloff, but the subsequent days saw a remarkable recovery. Kevin Burkett, portfolio manager at Victoria-based Burkett Asset Management, explains, “The numbers themselves aren’t bad. I think that the issue is people’s expectations, in particular at the end of December, had become so aligned to this view that we would see imminent and steep rate cuts.”

However, Burkett tempers expectations. “Right now, there’s very little chance that either the Bank of Canada or the U.S. Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in March,” he asserts. The specter of stubbornly elevated inflation looms large, making rate cuts a precarious proposition.

Recent earnings reports in Canada underscore the divergence between companies. While Manulife soared nearly nine percent after reporting robust earnings, Canadian Tire grappled with tougher economic conditions and softer consumer spending. Their stock price remained relatively stable.

As the markets sway, the Canadian dollar dances at 74.11 cents US, and commodities play their part. The April crude oil contract surged US$1.23, settling at US$77.59 per barrel. Meanwhile, gold glimmered, with the April gold contract adding US$10.60, reaching US$2,014.90 per ounce. Copper, too, caught the bullish wave, climbing six cents to US$3.76 per pound.

In this financial tango, investors watch closely, balancing optimism with caution. The rhythm of recovery continues, and the markets sway to their own beat.


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