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5 Things to Know Today: Canada Enters Recession, Oil Slips on Iran Ceasefire Talk

Saturday, May 30, 2026 — Your quick-hit Canadian financial briefing for the day. 1.Canada Officially Meets the Definition of a Technical Recession Statistics Canada confirmed Friday that real GDP contracted 0.1% on an annualized basis in Q1 2026 — following a revised 1.0% drop in Q4 2025 . That's two straight quarters of negative growth, which meets the technical definition of a recession. The miss was a big one: economists had forecast growth of 1.5% . The main culprits were a surge in imports (up 2.9%, largely gold), declining business capital investment (down 0.7% — its fifth consecutive quarterly drop ), and weakness in resource extraction and construction. On a per-capita basis, GDP actually edged up 0.2% as Canada's population shrank for the second quarter in a row. Not everyone is ready to call it a full recession: some economists note that three of the four weak months were isolated, and early April data points to a sharp 0.4% rebound . Still, the numbers ...

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S&P 500 Surpasses 6,000 Mark Amid Trump and Fed-Driven Surge

 

In a historic milestone, the S&P 500 index has broken through the 6,000-point barrier for the first time. This remarkable achievement comes on the heels of Donald Trump’s re-election and a series of favorable economic policies anticipated from a Republican-controlled Congress. The Federal Reserve’s recent decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points has further fueled investor optimism, propelling the market to new heights.

The rally, which has seen the S&P 500 post its best week in nearly a year, is driven by expectations of business-friendly policies, including tax cuts and deregulation, which are expected to boost corporate profits. Investors are also buoyed by the Fed’s commitment to maintaining a supportive monetary policy environment.

Market analysts suggest that the 6,000 mark is a psychologically significant milestone that could attract more investment into equities, as there remains substantial capital on the sidelines in money market funds and bonds. The combination of strong earnings, economic growth, and the so-called “Fed put” is expected to continue driving the market higher in the medium term.

However, there are concerns about potential inflationary pressures from Trump’s expansive fiscal policies and proposed tariff hikes, which could complicate the Federal Reserve’s path forward. Despite these uncertainties, the immediate market reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with all major indexes closing at record highs.

As investors celebrate this landmark achievement, the focus will now shift to how the new administration’s policies will unfold and their long-term impact on the economy and financial markets.


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