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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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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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