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Canadian Money Brief: 5 Things to Know Today — May 18, 2026

  A quick scan of the five stories shaping your wallet right now — from the Bank of Canada's next big decision to your mortgage renewal and a brand-new federal agency hunting financial criminals. 1 Bank of Canada Rate Holds at 2.25% — Next Decision Is June 10 The Bank of Canada kept its overnight policy rate steady at 2.25% at its April 29 meeting, citing a rise in energy-driven inflation and ongoing uncertainty from U.S. tariffs. Governing Council held firm while acknowledging a rate hike could become necessary if oil-linked price pressures prove persistent. The next announcement lands on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — mark your calendar. Why it matters: Your variable-rate mortgage, HELOC, and lines of credit are directly tied to this rate. With bank prime rates sitting at 4.45%, every meeting counts. 2 Markets TSX Slips Below 34,000 as Bond Yields Spike The S&P/TSX Composite Index finished last week down close to 2%, sliding under the 34,000 mark. A global bond market selloff...

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Stock Market Today: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Surge as Tesla Leads Earnings Rally

 

In today’s stock market, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite made significant gains, fueled by a fresh wave of earnings reports. Here are the highlights:

  1. S&P 500 Rebounds: The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose more than 1% after staging a comeback from a six-day run of losses in the previous session. Investors are optimistic about tech-focused companies’ earnings, which could help pull stocks out of the slump they’ve faced since the start of the year.

  2. Tesla’s Impact: Tesla (TSLA), often referred to as one of the “Magnificent Seven,” is in the spotlight. The electric vehicle (EV) maker’s earnings report is highly anticipated, given its weight in the S&P 500 index. Tesla’s shares have faced headwinds due to a disappointing delivery outlook, the cancellation of plans for a sub-$30,000 model, and a shift in strategy toward robotaxis. As the first major tech company to report this week, Tesla’s results set the stage for other giants like Meta (formerly Facebook), Microsoft, and Alphabet.

  3. Other Earnings: Legacy automaker General Motors (GM) kicked off earnings season with strong first-quarter results and an upward revision to its full-year guidance. GM’s shares rose around 5%. Meanwhile, Spotify (SPOT) stock jumped after the audio streaming company swung to a profit, beating expectations.

  4. Market Bottom? Fundstrat’s head of research, Tom Lee, suggests that US stocks may be near a market bottom. Elevated inflation expectations and hedge fund short interest surging to 2022 levels are among the signs. Lee points to technical levels for the S&P 500 to watch: 5019.02 (a positive sign if surpassed) and 4953.56 (a potential setup for a buy signal).

Overall, today’s market performance reflects optimism driven by earnings reports and the anticipation of tech giants’ results. Keep an eye on Tesla and other major players as they continue to shape market sentiment.


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