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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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Dow’s Remarkable Rally: An 8-Day Streak of Triumphs

 

In an impressive display of resilience, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has secured its eighth consecutive day of gains, a streak not seen since early 2019. This sustained upward movement comes amid growing optimism that the Federal Reserve may introduce a rate cut sooner than anticipated.

Investors have been closely monitoring a series of speeches from Federal Reserve officials, seeking confirmation of the burgeoning belief that a rate reduction is imminent. This sentiment has been bolstered by recent indicators suggesting a cooling labor market, which could prompt a more accommodative monetary policy stance.

The Dow’s latest climb of roughly 0.2% is part of a broader recovery from April’s market slump, with the S&P 500 also advancing towards a record high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has paralleled this ascent, albeit at a more modest pace.

On the corporate front, standout performances include TSMC, whose shares surged following a 60% sales increase in April, driven by persistent demand for AI and a resurgence in consumer electronics.

As the market heads into the weekend, all eyes are on the upcoming consumer price index report, which will offer further insights into the Federal Reserve’s potential rate cut trajectory. Investors remain hopeful that a dovish turn in policy could sustain the current rally, propelling the Dow and its counterparts to new heights.

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