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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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Tech Rally Fatigue: Nvidia’s Impact on US Stocks


The US stock market remained relatively flat today, with the benchmark S&P 500 unchanged and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.2%. However, this stability is notable because it follows a recent surge driven by artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, particularly Nvidia (NVDA). Nvidia briefly held the title of the world’s most valuable company this week, but today it faced a decline of over 1%. Other chip stocks, including Broadcom (AVGO), Super Micro Computer (SMCI), and Qualcomm (QCOM), also dipped alongside Nvidia.

Investors are closely monitoring the broader health of the US economy and the path for interest rates. Former St. Louis Fed president James Bullard suggested that last week’s cool Consumer Price Index reading could lead to a rate cut in September. While around two-thirds of traders still expect rate cuts to begin then, uncertainties remain.

In summary, the AI-fueled rally showed signs of fatigue today, and Nvidia’s performance played a significant role in shaping market sentiment.

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