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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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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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