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Markets Update — Friday, June 26, 2026: Global Tech Sell-Off Rattles Markets as TSX Holds Firm

  Friday, June 26, 2026 — Reporting on confirmed June 25 closing data. Asian and European figures reflect Friday session activity. 🇨🇦 Canada — TSX The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed Thursday at 34,850 , up 0.3% on the day — a relatively resilient showing while Wall Street struggled with a tech-driven selloff. Gains in the financial and mining sectors carried the index. The big Canadian banks were a bright spot: TD Bank added 0.9%, Royal Bank gained 0.4%, and BMO rose 0.9%. On the mining side, Agnico Eagle gained 1.7% as gold prices held near the $4,000 level. Technology names were the drag. Shopify fell 2.6%, Constellation Software lost 3.6%, and Celestica shed 0.7%, tracking the broader global selloff in tech stocks. Still, with Canadian tech making up a far smaller portion of the TSX than it does on U.S. indices, the damage was contained. Investors also parsed Thursday's Bank of Canada Summary of Deliberations, which confirmed policymakers are keeping monetary policy flexi...

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U.S., Britain, and Australia Consider Expanding AUKUS Security Pact to Counter China’s Influence

 

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are poised to engage in talks aimed at broadening their AUKUS security pact. This move comes as Washington advocates for Japan’s inclusion in the pact as a strategic measure against China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

The AUKUS pact, unveiled by the three nations in 2023, represents their collective efforts to curb China’s increasing influence. It encompasses joint initiatives related to quantum computing, undersea capabilities, hypersonic technology, artificial intelligence, and cyber advancements. These areas fall under the pact’s “pillar two” commitment.

The upcoming talks will explore the possibility of bringing new members into the AUKUS fold. While the first pillar of the pact focuses on delivering nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, the second pillar aims to foster technological collaboration among the member countries. Japan’s involvement is seen as crucial in countering China’s military buildup and territorial ambitions.

China has expressed concern over the AUKUS pact, labeling it as dangerous and warning of a potential arms race in the region. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell emphasized that the AUKUS submarine project could serve as a deterrent against any Chinese aggression toward Taiwan, a democratically governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.

President Joe Biden has actively sought to strengthen partnerships with Asian allies, including Japan and the Philippines. His administration aims to bolster regional security and stability amid China’s geopolitical maneuvers. In the coming days, Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington and convene a trilateral summit, which will also include Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, the international community closely watches how these diplomatic efforts unfold and their impact on the delicate balance in the Indo-Pacific theater.


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