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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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Stock Market Today: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Extend Winning Streak Ahead of Jackson Hole Symposium

US stocks continued their upward momentum today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both on track for their eighth consecutive daily gain. Investors are eagerly awaiting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium later this week.

Key Points:

  1. S&P 500 ( ^GSPC): The broad-market index rose 0.5%, extending its longest winning streak of the year.
  2. Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC): The tech-heavy index increased more than 0.5%, also aiming for an eighth consecutive session win.
  3. Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI): The Dow gained over 200 points, mirroring the positive sentiment.

Last week’s strong rally helped recover losses from an early August sell-off, as encouraging inflation and consumer spending data eased recession concerns. Confidence in a “soft landing” for the economy has grown, leading investors to focus on the magnitude of potential rate cuts by the Fed in September.

Keep an eye on Powell’s speech and the upcoming Democratic National Convention for further market insights.


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