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Global Markets in Flux: Oil, Geopolitics & Recovery Signals

June 17, 2026 | Daily Markets Update 📊 At a Glance: Oil prices softened: Brent crude fell to $78.76, down from four-year highs as US-Iran tensions ease Asian markets mixed: Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8% on strong export data, while tech-heavy indices declined Wall Street retreated: S&P 500 and Nasdaq turned negative; Dow Jones hit new highs Canadian dollar steady: USD/CAD holding near 1.38, tracking commodity moves Fed on hold: Chair Kevin Warsh's first meeting expected to keep rates steady amid inflation caution North American Markets Canada: TSX Shows Resilience The S&P/TSX Composite Index posted modest gains in early trading, supported by strength in the energy and utility sectors. The Canadian benchmark continues to track global sentiment and commodity prices, with oil and natural gas movements providing key directional cues. Energy stocks remain the focal point for Canadian investors as oil prices negotiate the delicate balance between Middle East de-escalation an...

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Wall Street braces for inflation data amid Fed uncertainty

Wall Street is set to open lower on Monday as investors await the latest inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates.

The S&P 500 futures fell 0.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 0.4% ahead of the opening bell.

The main focus this week will be the government’s consumer prices report, due on Tuesday, which will show how much inflation has eased or worsened in February. Inflation has been a major concern for the markets, as it erodes the value of future earnings and could prompt the Fed to tighten monetary policy faster than expected.

The Fed has raised interest rates 11 times since March 2022, bringing its benchmark rate to a 23-year high of about 5.4%. The central bank has said it expects to cut rates three times in 2024, but has not given any clear signal on the timing of the first cut.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified to Congress last week, but did not offer any new insights into the Fed’s outlook or plans. Powell said the Fed would continue to monitor the economic data and act as appropriate to support the recovery.

Investors will also pay attention to other economic indicators this week, such as the producer prices index, the retail sales report, and the consumer sentiment survey.

Meanwhile, the earnings season is winding down, with a few notable companies left to report their results. Oracle, Kohl’s, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General are among the companies scheduled to release their quarterly numbers this week.

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