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5 Things to Know Today: Tariffs, a CPI Surprise, and the Mortgage Rate Gap

  July 21, 2026 A new round of US tariffs, a surprise inflation dip, and a widening gap between fixed and variable mortgage rates are all moving in different directions today. Here's what's happening and what it means for your money. 1. Washington hits Canada with new 50% tariffs on everyday goods The White House has announced fresh 50% tariffs on a wide list of Canadian exports, including wine, dairy, furniture, hockey equipment, cement, and clothing. The move is framed as retaliation over Canada's dairy quotas, car import rules, and provincial bans on US alcohol. The tariffs take effect August 19 and apply even to goods that would normally qualify duty-free under CUSMA, though energy, potash, fish, and critical minerals are exempt. What it means for you: This round targets export industries, not imports into Canada, so it won't directly raise shelf prices here the way a Canadian tariff on US goods would. The bigger risk is indirect — job pressure in affected sectors ...

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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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