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AIR MILES Is Gone. Here's What Actually Earns You Travel Now

  If you've been holding onto a Air Miles card waiting to redeem for a flight, the program you signed up for doesn't exist anymore — and the cards that replaced it aren't the best game in town. If you searched "best AIR MILES credit card" and landed here, there's something you need to know first: there is no such thing anymore. AIR MILES, the loyalty program that's been part of Canadian wallets since 1992, officially became BMO Blue Rewards on June 2, 2026. BMO had already stopped issuing new AIR MILES cards back in January, and every collector's Miles converted automatically into Blue Points at a rate of roughly 1 Air Mile to 15.79 Blue Points — no action needed, no lost value. That's good news if you're a longtime collector sitting on a pile of Miles. It's less good news if you were hoping to earn free flights that way going forward, because Blue Rewards was built to compete with PC Optimum and Scene+ — grocery, gas, and everyday spendi...
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S&P/TSX Hits New Highs: Oil Surge and U.S. Markets Rally

 


Toronto, Canada witnessed a bullish surge as the S&P/TSX composite index soared nearly 200 points, closing at 21,552.35. The driving force behind this remarkable climb? Energy stocks, fueled by rising oil prices. Meanwhile, across the border, U.S. markets celebrated fresh record highs.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Oil’s Resurgence: The TSX energy index flexed its muscles, rising almost 2%. Oil briefly flirted with US$80 per barrel, a level unseen since early November. Geopolitical tensions and anticipation of potential OPEC cuts contributed to this bullish momentum.

  2. U.S. Market Records:

    • The Dow Jones industrial average gained 90.99 points, closing at 39,087.38.
    • The S&P 500 index surged 40.81 points, reaching 5,137.08.
    • The Nasdaq composite continued its ascent, adding 183.02 points to hit 16,274.94. Artificial intelligence remained the tech sector’s driving force.
    • Dell Technologies stole the spotlight, leaping nearly 32% after impressive earnings.

  3. Interest Rate Expectations:

    • Weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data bolstered expectations for summer interest rate cuts.
    • Fed Governor Christopher Waller hinted at a shift in the central bank’s holdings toward short-term Treasuries.

  4. Market Resilience:

    • Despite mixed economic data, market bulls remain optimistic.
    • Technical and fundamental factors support the rally, but caution is warranted due to elevated valuations and universal optimism.

  5. Earnings Triumph:

    • Fourth-quarter earnings exceeded expectations, with growth nearing 8%.
    • Approximately 76% of S&P 500 firms surprised to the upside, reinforcing confidence in equities.

  6. AI-Driven Rally:

    • Wall Street strategists scramble to keep pace with the stock market’s artificial intelligence frenzy.
    • Five major firms raised their S&P 500 forecasts for 2024.
    • The index’s strong start—up over 7%—follows a remarkable 24% gain in 2023.

  7. Historical Perspective:

    • Consecutive monthly gains signal a promising year ahead.
    • Since 1950, when the index finished higher in both January and February, full-year returns averaged 19.8%—with positive outcomes in 27 out of 28 instances.

In summary, the S&P/TSX’s bullish trajectory, driven by oil and tech, underscores unwavering optimism amid macroeconomic uncertainties. Investors eagerly await further developments in monetary policy and corporate performance.


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