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5 Things to Know Today (Oct. 1): Minimum Wage Hike, Cooler U.S. Inflation, Oil Below $100

  Thursday October 1, 2026 A new quarter, a higher minimum wage in Ontario and a softer inflation read south of the border. Here are the five things that matter to your wallet today. 1 Ontario's minimum wage rises to $17.95 today Ontario's general minimum wage climbs 35 cents, from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour, as of October 1 — a roughly 2% bump tied to Ontario's CPI. The student rate goes to $16.90 (from $16.60) and the homeworker rate to $19.70. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week earns about $718 a week before deductions. Federally regulated workers already have an $18.15 floor, which has applied since April 1. What it means for you: If you pay anyone by the hour — a cleaner, a part-time helper, a seasonal worker — hours worked from today forward must be paid at no less than $17.95, even if the pay period started in September. Workers should check their next paycheque. 2 Cooler U.S. inflation eases the pressure on rate hikes The Fed's preferred inflation gauge came i...

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Dow Set to Build on Rally as Major Week for Markets Begins

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is poised to continue its upward momentum as a significant week for the markets kicks off. U.S. stock futures rose on Monday, with Dow futures up approximately 0.4%, following a surge of over 650 points last week. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures also showed gains of 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively.

Investors are gearing up for a busy week filled with key events, including a Federal Reserve rate decision, the July nonfarm payrolls report, and earnings reports from major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. The market’s recent rally was bolstered by a promising inflation reading, which has strengthened bets for future interest-rate cuts.

Despite the positive outlook, the market remains cautious after a volatile period marked by a significant tech sell-off. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold off on any rate changes at its meeting on Wednesday, with many analysts predicting that any action will be delayed until September. The upcoming jobs report on Friday is anticipated to reveal potential weaknesses in the labor market, which could influence the timing and extent of future rate cuts.

As investors await these crucial updates, over 150 members of the S&P 500 are set to release their quarterly results, starting with McDonald’s on Monday. This week promises to be a pivotal one for the markets, with potential surprises that could test the resilience of the current rally.


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