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Monday’s CPI Could Decide Your Next Mortgage Payment

  Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September. Inflation is sitting at 3%. The Bank of Canada has to decide on October 28 which of those facts matters more, and on Monday morning one more number lands to help it choose. If you carry a variable-rate mortgage, a HELOC or a renewal this winter, that number has a price tag. Two reports pulling in opposite directions The jobs data came first. Statistics Canada reported on October 9 that employment fell by 68,000 in September, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.5% from 6.4%. It followed a drop of about 42,000 in August, which means more than half of the 181,000 jobs gained between April and July have now been wiped out. Ontario shed 20,000 positions on its own. Markets reacted within hours: the odds of a quarter-point Bank of Canada hike on October 28 dropped to roughly 25% from about 40%, according to LSEG data reported by Reuters. Inflation is telling the opposite story. The consumer price index rose 3.0% year over year in August, matching Ju...
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Wall Street Nervously Awaits Key Inflation Data

 

Wall Street is treading cautiously today as investors eagerly anticipate the latest inflation report. The Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance on monetary policy has kept the market on edge, and this data release could provide crucial insights.

What’s Happening?

  • Modest Losses: Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average are down by 0.3% ahead of the opening bell. Despite this, Wall Street remains on track for a positive February, even after a somewhat challenging week.

  • Inflation Focus: The Commerce Department is set to release its report on consumer spending, which includes a closely watched measure of inflation. The Federal Reserve has recently paused its interest rate hikes after raising rates to a 22-year high. The central bank’s primary goal is to manage inflation, and any surprises in today’s data could impact their next moves.

  • Analyst Expectations: Economists predict that year-over-year inflation ticked down in January to 2.3%, compared to December’s 2.6%. The Fed’s target is 2%, so any deviation from this level will be closely scrutinized.

  • Corporate Highlights: Processed food maker Hormel surprised the market by beating profit targets, leading to a nearly 5% premarket jump. However, cloud-computing company Snowflake faced a different fate, plummeting over 22% after announcing the immediate retirement of CEO Frank Slootman. Sridhar Ramaswamy will take the reins.

  • Global Markets: In Europe, Germany’s DAX and Britain’s FTSE 100 are showing resilience, each adding 0.4%. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index closed 0.1% lower, with factory output declining at the fastest pace since May 2020.

Investors are keeping a close eye on inflation data, hoping for clarity on the Fed’s next steps. As the market navigates uncertainty, it remains to be seen how Wall Street will react to the numbers. Stay tuned for further updates!


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