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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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Wall Street Edges Down as Retail Earnings Take Center Stage



Wall Street is poised slightly lower, anticipating a week dominated by earnings reports from major retailers. Here are the key highlights:
  1. Market Outlook:

    • Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average have dipped approximately 0.1% before the opening bell.
    • Investors keenly await earnings data, which serves as a crucial indicator for the trajectory of the U.S. and global economies.
  2. Noteworthy Developments:

    • Domino’s, the pizza delivery giant, has surged by 6.5% pre-market after surpassing Wall Street’s sales and profit expectations.
    • Zoom, the video conferencing company, is set to report its earnings later today.
    • Amazon.com officially joins the prestigious Dow Jones industrials, replacing Walgreens Boots Alliance.
    • Uber Technologies Inc. will replace JetBlue Airways Corp. on the Dow Jones Transportation Average, enhancing the index’s tracking of the ride-sharing sector.
  3. Upcoming Retail Earnings:

    • Keep an eye on quarterly financial results from major retailers:
      • Lowe’s: The home improvement retailer.
      • Dollar Tree: The discount retailer.
      • Macy’s: The department store chain.
      • Best Buy: The electronics retailer.
  4. Economic Data:

    • Expect updates on consumer confidence, inflation, and the pace of growth in the U.S. during the October-December quarter.
    • The Federal Reserve’s efforts to manage inflation remain in focus, with expectations of a rate cut in June instead of March.
  5. Global Markets:

    • In Europe, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.4%, Germany’s DAX edged 0.1% higher, and Britain’s FTSE 100 declined 0.3%.
    • The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained 0.4%, reaching 39,233.71.

Stay tuned for a week of market movements driven by earnings revelations and economic indicators. 

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