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Oil jumps above US$105 after Riyadh blasts, futures slip and yields near 24-year highs. TSX, Wall Street and global markets for Oct 8.

  Canadian Money Brief | Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Morning edition Oil is jumping, futures are sliding and bond yields are sitting near 24-year highs. Explosions in Riyadh, including a blast at the city's airport, sent crude sharply higher early Thursday and pushed U.S. stock futures lower. That follows a rough Wednesday for Toronto, where banks and miners dragged the TSX down. Here is where every major market stands before the open. Key takeaways Brent crude jumped about 5% to above US$105 a barrel; WTI rose about 5% to roughly US$92.75. S&P 500 futures are down about 0.6% and Dow futures about 1% after Wall Street's four-day winning streak ended Wednesday. The TSX fell about 1.7% Wednesday to near 35,040, led lower by the big banks and gold miners. The U.S. 10-year yield touched 5.36% on Wednesday, its highest since April 2002, and is hovering near 5.3% again. Markets are pricing in at least one Bank of Canada rate hike by year-end. Canada: TSX stumbles as banks and m...

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Rising Temperatures and Wildfire Smoke: A Call for Disaster Recognition

 

As the mercury soars and wildfire smoke blankets the skies, a coalition of environmentalists, labor unions, and public health advocates have united with a singular demand: classify extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters in the United States. This plea, directed at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), seeks to unlock critical funding and resources to bolster community resilience against these increasingly frequent and intense climate events.

The petitioners argue that the recognition of extreme heat and smoke as major disasters is overdue. They draw parallels to FEMA’s rapid response to the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting that similar urgency is needed to combat the lethal consequences of climate change. The statistics are alarming: an estimated 2,300 Americans succumbed to heat-related illnesses in 2023, the hottest year on record. Meanwhile, smoke from Canadian wildfires has traveled as far south as Georgia, disrupting lives and livelihoods.

The groups emphasize that extreme heat acts as a “harm multiplier,” exacerbating health risks and economic burdens, particularly for disadvantaged communities. Their petition underscores the need for proactive measures, such as air filters and rooftop solar systems, to mitigate the impacts of these climate crises before they strike. As the planet warms, the call for action grows louder, urging FEMA to step up and recognize the gravity of these environmental threats.

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