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Daily Markets Update: Oil Rattles TSX Ahead of BoC Hike Week | Oct 26

  Canadian Money Brief • Daily Markets Update Monday, October 26, 2026 • Covers Friday’s North American and European closes plus Monday’s Asian session Oil took over from AI as the market’s main worry on Friday. Crude jumped above US$100 on fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia, the S&P/TSX Composite finished the week lower, and Wall Street logged a second straight weekly loss for the S&P 500. Monday brought a small reprieve: oil slipped after no weekend escalation in the Iran war, and most Asian and European markets steadied — just ahead of a week stacked with central bank decisions, including the Bank of Canada on Wednesday. The 30-second version TSX: 35,788.18 , down 185.27 points (−0.52%) Friday; −1.07% on the week. Wall Street: Dow −1.2%, S&P 500 −0.5%, Nasdaq −0.2%. Oil: WTI settled at US$103.27 ; Brent at US$116.72 . Loonie: 71.46¢ US , a five-week high. Bank of Canada: markets price roughly an 80% chance of a hike to 2.50% on Wednesday. Canada: TSX Ends the Week in the...

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TSX Down Almost 100 Points, U.S. Markets Mixed Amid Ongoing Interest Rate Angst

 

Weakness in several sectors, including financials and utilities, led Canada’s main stock index down almost 100 points on Tuesday. Simultaneously, U.S. markets experienced a mixed day of trading. Here’s a closer look at the market dynamics:

Canadian Market Overview

  • The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 97.33 points at 21,642.87.
  • Industrials, utilities, and base metals were among the sectors that contributed to the decline.
  • Investors grappled with ongoing uncertainty surrounding interest rates, which impacted market sentiment.

U.S. Market Insights

  • U.S. equity markets showed resilience by bouncing back from Monday’s fall.
  • The Dow Jones industrial average gained 63.86 points, closing at 37,798.97.
  • The S&P 500 index dipped 10.41 points, settling at 5,051.41.
  • The Nasdaq composite declined 19.77 points, ending at 15,865.25.

Interest Rate Tensions

  • Recent strong economic data reports have made it clear that the U.S. Federal Reserve won’t cut interest rates as soon as many investors had hoped.
  • Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized that the central bank needs more confidence that inflation is sustainably heading toward its target before considering rate cuts.
  • Powell’s comments sent “tremors” through the market, leading to an immediate climb in Treasury yields.

Canadian Perspective

  • In Canada, the latest inflation data supports the case for the central bank to start cutting rates.
  • March’s inflation ticked higher to 2.9%, driven by rising gas prices, but core inflation continued to cool.
  • Senior economist Jules Boudreau believes it’s only a matter of time before the Bank of Canada implements rate cuts.

Currency and Commodities

  • The Canadian dollar traded at 72.35 cents US, slightly weaker than the previous day.
  • Crude oil prices remained steady, with the May contract at US$85.36 per barrel.
  • Natural gas prices saw a modest increase, with the May contract at US$1.73 per mmBTU.

In summary, the markets remain on edge due to interest rate uncertainties. Investors are closely monitoring economic indicators and central bank decisions as they navigate this volatile landscape. Stay tuned for further developments.


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