Canadian Money Brief | October 19, 2026 CFB Wainwright Fire: What We Know and How to Help Without Getting Scammed Four Canadian soldiers are dead and 39 people were hurt after a grass fire overtook a live-fire training exercise in Alberta. When tragedy hits, Canadians want to help. Scammers know it. What happened On Saturday, October 17, a fire ignited in a training area at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, about 200 km southeast of Edmonton. Officials say it began as a grass fire during training that included grenades and live ammunition. Military leaders said the fire was known to range control for hours and was believed to be contained enough for training to continue. Then the wind turned. Reporting from Al Jazeera and ABC News describes gusts jumping from about 50 km/h to as high as 96 km/h, pushing the flames toward soldiers and their administrative area. Defence officials said 84 members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were in the training area. Four servi...
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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