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Iran Deal Signed: Will Canadian Gas Prices Finally Drop This Summer?

  Big news broke this week that could mean relief at the gas pump — eventually. The United States and Iran signed a landmark agreement on June 17, 2026, to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply flows. Oil prices have already dropped sharply. But for Canadians still paying elevated gas prices after months of Middle East conflict, the real question is: how much relief will we actually see, and when? What the Deal Actually Says The memorandum of understanding signed June 17 commits both sides to reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, ending the US naval blockade on Iran, and beginning 60-day nuclear negotiations. In exchange, Iran agreed to dilute its enriched uranium stockpile under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which confirmed on June 18 it is ready to implement the deal. The deal does not resolve everything — Iran and the US still hold conflicting positio...

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S&P 500 Plummets Amid Weak Jobs Report

 


The S&P 500 experienced its worst jobs day since October 2022, as a weak jobs report fueled concerns about the health of the U.S. economy. The index fell by 1.8%, while the Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000 also saw significant declines, dropping 2.4% and 3.5% respectively.

The disappointing jobs data has intensified fears that the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates at a two-decade high could lead to a more pronounced economic slowdown. This sentiment was echoed by Wall Street giants like Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., who are now calling for more aggressive Fed action.

The selloff was further exacerbated by a plunge in key technology companies, with Intel Corp. experiencing a 26% drop due to a grim growth forecast. The volatility index, often referred to as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” hit its highest level since March 2023.

As traders project that the Fed will cut rates by more than a full percentage point in 2024, the market’s focus has shifted from “when and how much will the Fed ease” to concerns about a potential economic downturn. This shift in sentiment has led to increased volatility and a flight from riskier assets.

The latest jobs figures suggest that the Fed’s policies may be cooling the labor market too much, raising questions about whether the central bank has been too slow to act. As the market grapples with these uncertainties, investors are taking money off the table and booking profits, leading to continued near-term volatility.


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