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Gas Is Still $1.81 a Litre: Why Pump Prices Won't Fall (and What to Do Before Winter)

  Canadians hoping for relief at the pump got bad news heading into this week: it isn't coming soon. The national average for regular gas was $1.81 a litre on Friday, according to Kalibrate, with provincial averages ranging from $1.557 in Alberta to $2.156 in Newfoundland, per GasBuddy. That's after a big policy move. On Friday the G7 announced plans to release 100 million barrels of oil right away, starting with diesel. Brent crude dipped on the news, then climbed back to about US$102 a barrel by the afternoon. Don't expect the release to show up at your station, because crude is only half the story. Crude oil explains only half your pump price Wood Mackenzie's Jim Mitchell says crude makes up 50 to 60 per cent of the retail price of gas. The rest is the cost of refining it, and that's where the squeeze is. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem pointed to damaged refining capacity worldwide in a Sept. 21 speech, noting that pump prices reflect crude roughly US$40 a ...

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Anticipation Builds on Wall Street as Federal Reserve Meeting Nears

 


In a climate of cautious optimism, Wall Street experienced a modest rise in early trading on Monday. Investors are keenly awaiting the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, which is expected to provide critical cues on the future of monetary policy and interest rates.

The S&P 500 futures saw a 0.7% increase, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged up slightly. This uptick comes amidst a broader context of fluctuating tech stocks and a recovering Nasdaq, spurred by Nvidia’s commencement of its AI conference.

The financial community is abuzz with speculation, as the Federal Reserve is anticipated to maintain borrowing costs steady. The central bank’s decision will be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of the U.S. economy, which has been grappling with inflation rates that soared as high as 9.1% in 2022.

As the week progresses, all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve, with investors hoping for signals that could confirm a rate cut in June. The outcome of this meeting could either fuel the rally that began in October or further stall the market’s momentum.

In Europe, markets have shown a slight increase, with Germany’s DAX adding 0.3% and both the FTSE 100 in London and the CAC 40 in Paris edging 0.2% higher. Meanwhile, Asian markets have also advanced, with the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo making a significant leap.

The anticipation is palpable as the world waits to see how the Federal Reserve will steer the course of the U.S. economy amidst ongoing inflation concerns and a complex global financial landscape.

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