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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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Stock Market Bounces Back After Tuesday’s Slide


 U.S. stocks are showing resilience today, recovering some of the ground lost during Tuesday’s tumultuous trading session. After a sharp 1.4% decline on Tuesday, the S&P 500 is now 0.5% higher in early trading on Wall Street.

Investors were jolted by a hotter-than-expected report on inflation, which led to concerns that the Federal Reserve might maintain high interest rates for longer than anticipated. The delay in forecasts for interest rate cuts has been a significant factor affecting market sentiment. Expectations of rate cuts had previously fueled the stock market’s recent record-setting rally.

Despite the recent volatility, several companies are making headlines today:

  1. DaVita: The health care company reported stronger-than-expected profits and revenue for the latest quarter, propelling its stock up by 8.2% in the S&P 500.
  2. Lyft: After a wild ride in off-hours trading driven by a typo in its earnings report, Lyft shares surged by 32.8%. The ride-hailing company corrected the typo, but the initial confusion led to a significant after-hours boost.
  3. Uber Technologies: The ride-hailing giant’s board authorized a program to buy back up to $7 billion of its stock, a move that investors tend to favor for its direct impact on per-share profits.

A calmer bond market is also contributing to the steadier stock performance. Treasury yields have eased after their sharp rise, with the 10-year Treasury yield currently at 4.26%, down from Tuesday’s level of 4.32%. However, it remains significantly higher than the start of this month’s 3.85%.

While uncertainties persist, today’s recovery suggests that investors are cautiously navigating the complex landscape of interest rates and economic growth. As always, the stock market remains a dynamic arena, influenced by a multitude of factors. Stay tuned for further developments as we continue to monitor the financial landscape.


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