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Canadian Money Brief: 5 Things to Know Today — May 18, 2026

  A quick scan of the five stories shaping your wallet right now — from the Bank of Canada's next big decision to your mortgage renewal and a brand-new federal agency hunting financial criminals. 1 Bank of Canada Rate Holds at 2.25% — Next Decision Is June 10 The Bank of Canada kept its overnight policy rate steady at 2.25% at its April 29 meeting, citing a rise in energy-driven inflation and ongoing uncertainty from U.S. tariffs. Governing Council held firm while acknowledging a rate hike could become necessary if oil-linked price pressures prove persistent. The next announcement lands on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — mark your calendar. Why it matters: Your variable-rate mortgage, HELOC, and lines of credit are directly tied to this rate. With bank prime rates sitting at 4.45%, every meeting counts. 2 Markets TSX Slips Below 34,000 as Bond Yields Spike The S&P/TSX Composite Index finished last week down close to 2%, sliding under the 34,000 mark. A global bond market selloff...

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U.S. Futures Steady as Investors Await Economic Data and Powell’s Speech

 

U.S. stock index futures remained largely unchanged on Thursday morning as investors awaited key economic data and a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The producer price index (PPI) for October and weekly jobless claims data are expected to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, which could provide insights into corporate pricing power and the broader economic outlook.

Market participants are also keenly anticipating Powell’s comments later in the day, hoping for clues on future monetary policy. Traders are currently pricing in a high probability of a 25-basis point interest rate cut at the Fed’s December meeting, following recent consumer price index data that aligned with forecasts.

In premarket trading, Dow E-minis were up 0.19%, S&P 500 E-minis rose 0.09%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis edged up 0.04%. Shares of cryptocurrency-focused companies saw gains, with Coinbase Global up 3.8% and bitcoin buyer MicroStrategy rising 3.4%.

Investors will be closely monitoring Powell’s speech for any indications of how the Fed plans to navigate the current economic landscape, especially in light of inflationary pressures and potential policy shifts under the incoming administration.


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