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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 Update: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Futures Climb as Fed Delivers and Meta Jumps

 


The stock market is showing positive momentum today, with futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rising. This uptick comes on the heels of encouraging signals from the Federal Reserve and strong earnings reports from Meta Platforms.

Federal Reserve’s Impact: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has bolstered market confidence by suggesting that a rate cut could be on the table for September. This has increased traders’ expectations for a potential 25-basis-point reduction, with some even speculating a 50-basis-point cut.

Meta’s Strong Performance: Meta Platforms has seen a significant boost, with its shares climbing over 7% in pre-market trading. The company’s second-quarter earnings exceeded expectations, and its optimistic third-quarter sales forecast has further fueled investor enthusiasm.

Market Reactions: The positive news from Meta and the Federal Reserve has led to a rally in tech stocks. Futures on the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 are both up roughly 0.4%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures have edged up by 0.1%.

Looking Ahead: Investors are now turning their attention to upcoming earnings reports from other major tech companies, including Apple and Amazon, which are due after the bell. Additionally, the market is awaiting the release of the July jobs report, which will provide further insights into the labor market and its impact on Fed policy.

Stay tuned for more updates as the market continues to react to these developments.


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