Skip to main content

Featured

Daily Markets Update: Bond Rout Hits 24-Year High, TSX Slips a 4th Day — and It's Jobs Day

  Friday, October 2, 2026. Figures are as of early morning, before the 8:30 a.m. ET U.S. jobs report. Global bond markets set the tone again. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield touched 5.34% on Thursday, its highest since 2002 , before easing back to about 5.24% by the close. Wall Street held up, but the damage was sharper elsewhere: the UK’s 30-year gilt yield crossed 6% for the first time since 1998, and Toronto slipped for a fourth straight session. Oil jumped more than 4% on Thursday before sliding back under US$100 this morning, and the Canadian dollar fell to a 12-week low. All eyes now turn to today’s U.S. jobs report, which could decide whether the bond selloff cools or keeps running. Today’s big event: the U.S. jobs report The U.S. September jobs report lands at 8:30 a.m. ET . Economists expect roughly 84,000 to 90,000 new jobs, with unemployment holding at 4.1% and wages up 0.3% on the month. That would be a big cooldown from August’s surprise gain of 162,000. It matters bec...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

S&P/TSX Composite and U.S. Stock Markets Rally After Rate Decision



On Wednesday, the S&P/TSX composite index closed up 185.13 points at 22,045.71, following a boost from the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate announcement. Simultaneously, U.S. stock markets also surged, with the Dow Jones industrial average rising 401.37 points to 39,512.13 and the S&P 500 index gaining 46.11 points to reach 5,224.62. The Nasdaq composite also joined the rally, climbing 202.62 points to 16,369.41.

The Federal Reserve’s decision to hold its key rate steady for the fifth consecutive meeting was widely expected. However, the central bank’s projection of three rate cuts in 2024 surprised some investors, given the strong inflation data earlier this year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that while inflation has cooled from its peak, uncertainties remain, and the path forward is uncertain.

For investors, the Fed’s announcement brought positive news. Mike Archibald, Vice President and Portfolio Manager at AGF Investments Inc., highlighted that the market had anticipated a reduction to two cuts in 2024. The fact that the central bank maintained its projection of three cuts was well-received. Although the Fed lowered its expectations for cuts in 2025, it upgraded its growth outlook, signaling confidence in the economy.

Looking ahead, Archibald believes that rate cuts are still likely to come mid-year. In Canada, the situation may differ slightly, as the economy has not shown the same persistent strength. The Bank of Canada, which also held its key rate steady, expects to start cutting rates this year but remains divided on timing.

As the markets responded favorably to the Fed’s decision, investors are cautiously optimistic about better times ahead. Equities in risk-on sectors, such as discretionary, communications, services, industrials, and financials, outperformed. The Canadian dollar traded at 73.75 cents US, and commodities experienced mixed movements.

In summary, the S&P/TSX composite’s upward trajectory, coupled with gains in U.S. stock markets, reflects investor confidence in the economic recovery. As the year unfolds, market participants will closely monitor central bank actions and economic indicators to navigate the evolving landscape.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment