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Wall Street Stays Resilient as Nasdaq Hits Record Amid Tariff Turbulence

  Markets defy trade jitters with mixed performance Wall Street wrapped up the week with a show of resilience, as the Nasdaq Composite edged to a fresh record close , buoyed by strong tech earnings and steady economic data. The S&P 500 posted a modest weekly gain , while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% , reflecting investor caution amid escalating tariff tensions. Despite President Trump’s push for 15% to 20% blanket tariffs on European Union imports , markets largely shrugged off the geopolitical noise. Economic indicators, including a sharp drop in inflation expectations from the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey, helped soothe investor nerves. Netflix’s earnings beat failed to impress, dragging its stock lower, while American Express posted strong results , signaling continued spending strength among affluent consumers. Meanwhile, CRISPR Therapeutics surged 17% after a major insider stock purchase, and Bitcoin briefly topped $118,000 befor...
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Preserving Affordable Housing: The Role of Rental-Protection Funds


Colleen Frank, a 74-year-old resident, stood in front of the rental apartment she had called home for over two decades. The two-bedroom condo in Chilliwack, B.C., where she had served as the unofficial superintendent, was no longer hers. Evicted at 72, she faced homelessness in a rapidly rising rental market. Colleen’s story is not unique; many low-income Canadians struggle to find affordable housing as rents soar.

Across Canada, lower-cost rental properties are disappearing due to renovictions, tenant turnover, and demolitions. While new buildings receive attention, the existing stock dwindles. It’s akin to filling a bucket with a hole at the bottom—new development won’t suffice if we lose existing units.

Canada is now taking a crucial step to address this crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced the creation of a $1.5-billion rental protection fund. This fund aims to preserve affordable housing by helping non-profits purchase rental apartments when they come up for sale.

How It Works

  1. Loans and Grants: The program offers $1 billion in loans and $470 million in grants. Non-profits can access these funds to buy affordable rental properties.
  2. Cost-Effective Preservation: Research shows that preserving existing affordable housing is 50-70% cheaper than new construction. Non-profit operators keep rents lower for the long term.
  3. Swift Action: Private real estate sales move quickly, making it challenging for non-profits to compete. The rental-protection fund bridges this gap.

British Columbia’s Rental Protection Fund has already made a difference. It provides one-time capital grants to non-profit housing organizations, allowing them to purchase rental buildings and co-operatives listed for sale. By safeguarding existing units, this fund protects renters and ensures long-term affordability.

As the housing market escalates, rental-protection funds become essential tools. By preserving what we have, we can stem the vanishing supply of affordable units and provide stability for vulnerable Canadians. 

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