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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Minutes, U.S. CPI and Cheaper Gas (Nov. 8, 2026)

  Canadian Money Brief • Sunday, November 8, 2026 Markets are closed until Monday, but the week ahead is loaded: two Bank of Canada releases, a key U.S. inflation report and some welcome relief at the pump. Here are five things to know today, and what each means for your wallet. 1. Two Bank of Canada releases land early this week The Bank of Canada publishes its Q3 Market Participants Survey Monday at 10:30 a.m. ET, then the summary of deliberations behind its Oct. 28 rate decision Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Bank raised its policy rate 25 basis points to 2.50% that day, its first hike since July 2023, and signalled more tightening was possible if energy costs spill into broader prices. The minutes were written before the post-midterm oil drop, so watch how hawkish the tone is. What it means for you: If you have a variable-rate mortgage or a HELOC, the minutes help show whether another hike is on the table at the next decision on Dec. 9. A hawkish read keeps pressure on borrowin...

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Anticipation and Reaction to Fed’s Rate Decision

 


As investors braced for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision, North American stock markets experienced a mixed close. The Fed maintained its key interest rate at 5.25%-5.50%, leaving the future of rate cuts uncertain. Despite this, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped, while the Dow Jones and S&P/TSX Composite saw modest gains.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference offered a glimmer of hope as he dismissed the likelihood of an immediate rate hike, causing a surge in market optimism. He acknowledged the persistent issue of inflation but expressed confidence in the progress towards the 2% target.

The labor market showed signs of normalization, with job openings at a three-year low2. Meanwhile, the earnings season is more than halfway through, with a majority of S&P 500 companies surpassing consensus expectations.

In the corporate landscape, AMD’s AI chip sales forecast led to a 9% drop in its shares, while Amazon’s AI-driven cloud growth pushed its stock up by 2.2%. Johnson & Johnson plans to proceed with a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit settlement, and Starbucks faced a significant sales forecast cut.

The energy sector took a hit due to falling oil prices and a potential Middle East ceasefire, while uranium miners saw a boost from a U.S. ban on Russian imports. Canadian manufacturing activity continued to contract, reflecting ongoing economic challenges.

In summary, the market’s response to the Fed’s decision was a complex interplay of anticipation, relief, and sector-specific movements, highlighting the intricate dynamics of financial markets.

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