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5 Things to Know Today: Inflation Data, a Tariff Countdown, and a Big Energy Deal

  August 17, 2026 Inflation data lands this morning, the clock on the U.S. tariff deadline is down to two days, and a long-running provincial energy dispute is about to be settled. Here's what's moving your money today. 1. Today's Inflation Report Could Set the Tone for September Statistics Canada releases July's Consumer Price Index this morning. Economists are expecting the annual rate to tick up to roughly 2.9%, from 2.8% in June, mainly because gasoline prices swung higher again in July after the Middle East conflict pushed oil prices back up. Core inflation measures, which the Bank of Canada watches most closely, aren't expected to move much. What it means for you: A hotter-than-expected print would make it less likely the Bank of Canada cuts rates at its September 2 meeting, which matters if you're renewing a variable-rate mortgage or carrying a line of credit. A softer number keeps a cut on the table. 2. The Tariff Deadline Is Two Days Away, and Talks Are...

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Dow Touches 40,000 for the First Time, But Stocks Pull Back from Records

 

Despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) reaching a historic milestone by touching 40,000 for the first time ever, U.S. stocks couldn’t sustain their upward momentum. Here’s a summary of today’s market activity:

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI): The Dow briefly surpassed 40,000 but closed down 0.1% at 39,869.
  • S&P 500 (GSPC): The S&P 500 dropped around 0.2%, closing just below 5,300 after reaching that level for the first time on Wednesday.
  • Nasdaq Composite (IXIC): The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell about 0.3%.

Factors Influencing the Market

  1. Inflation Concerns: Three Federal Reserve officials—Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, New York Fed President John Williams, and Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin—expressed caution about higher interest rates. Their comments dampened the recent stock rally.
  2. Bond Yields: Investors turned to bonds, pushing the 10-year Treasury yield (TNX) near one-month lows at around 4.33%. On Thursday, yields ticked up slightly to around 4.38%.
  3. Corporate News: Walmart (WMT) reported better-than-expected quarterly profits, revenue, and same-store sales, boosting its stock by over 7%. Meanwhile, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BKR-B) revealed a $6.7 billion stake in Chubb (CB), ending months of speculation.

Venu Sports: A New Streaming Service

In other news, Disney’s ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox have officially named their upcoming sports streaming service: Venu Sports. Set to debut this fall, Venu Sports will offer an extensive collection of live sports content, representing approximately 55% of U.S. sports rights.

Stay tuned for further market updates and developments! 

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