Skip to main content

Featured

How the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Is Hitting Your Wallet Right Now

Published May 17, 2026  |  Category: Oil Prices & Energy  |  By MoneySavings.ca If you've winced lately at the gas pump or noticed your grocery bill creeping up, you're not imagining it. A geopolitical crisis unfolding halfway around the world — at a narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman — is directly squeezing Canadian budgets. Here's everything you need to know, and what you can do about it. What Is the Strait of Hormuz? The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway just 33 kilometres wide at its tightest point, connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Despite its modest size, it is the world's single most critical energy chokepoint. Before this crisis, roughly 20 million barrels of oil moved through it every single day — about 20% of all the world's seaborne oil supply, plus significant volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Think of it as the world's energy jugular vein. When it gets blocked, the entire planet feels it. What Happened? On Februa...

article

Asian Stocks Mixed Amid Volatile Yen After Wall Street Climbs on Inflation Report

 

Global stocks exhibited mixed performance today, with the Japanese yen experiencing fluctuations following the latest U.S. update on inflation. Wall Street’s growing belief in potential relief on interest rates as early as September influenced market dynamics.

Key Points:

  • Yen Volatility: The yen oscillated between gains and losses, losing some ground against the U.S. dollar. Speculation arose that Japanese authorities might have intervened to amplify the impact of milder U.S. inflation data.

  • U.S. Futures: S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged 0.1% higher, reflecting optimism about interest rate relief.

  • European Markets: Germany’s DAX rose 0.3%, the CAC 40 in Paris gained 0.8%, and London’s FTSE 100 added 0.4%.

  • Asian Markets:

    • Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index declined 2.5%.
    • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 2.6%.
    • Shanghai Composite index remained nearly unchanged.
    • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.9%.
    • South Korea’s Kospi slipped 1.2%.
    • Taiwan’s Taiex declined 2%.
  • Data Releases: Watch for the U.S. producer price index and inflation readings from Germany, France, and Italy later today.

  • Wall Street: Despite pullbacks for some tech giants, four out of five stocks in the S&P 500 index climbed.



Comments