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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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US Futures Edge Up as Investors Await Earnings and Fed Meeting

 

US stock futures nudged higher today as investors brace for a busy week of corporate earnings and the kickoff of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting. Futures on the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq 100 all rose by approximately 0.2% in pre-market trading.

This week is pivotal for the markets, with major companies like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta set to report their quarterly earnings. Investors are particularly keen to see if the substantial investments in artificial intelligence by these tech giants are beginning to yield returns.

In addition to earnings, the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, starting today, is in sharp focus. While no change in interest rates is expected, the meeting could lay the groundwork for a potential rate cut in September, following encouraging inflation data from June.

The market’s attention is also on the July jobs report, which will be released later this week. This report, along with the Fed’s decisions and corporate earnings, will be crucial in determining whether the recent stock pullback has ended.

Stay tuned as this week unfolds, bringing significant developments that could shape the market’s direction in the coming months.


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