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5 Things to Know Today (Oct. 1): Minimum Wage Hike, Cooler U.S. Inflation, Oil Below $100

  Thursday October 1, 2026 A new quarter, a higher minimum wage in Ontario and a softer inflation read south of the border. Here are the five things that matter to your wallet today. 1 Ontario's minimum wage rises to $17.95 today Ontario's general minimum wage climbs 35 cents, from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour, as of October 1 — a roughly 2% bump tied to Ontario's CPI. The student rate goes to $16.90 (from $16.60) and the homeworker rate to $19.70. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week earns about $718 a week before deductions. Federally regulated workers already have an $18.15 floor, which has applied since April 1. What it means for you: If you pay anyone by the hour — a cleaner, a part-time helper, a seasonal worker — hours worked from today forward must be paid at no less than $17.95, even if the pay period started in September. Workers should check their next paycheque. 2 Cooler U.S. inflation eases the pressure on rate hikes The Fed's preferred inflation gauge came i...

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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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