Skip to main content

Featured

5 Things to Know Today: Inflation Data, a Tariff Countdown, and a Big Energy Deal

  August 17, 2026 Inflation data lands this morning, the clock on the U.S. tariff deadline is down to two days, and a long-running provincial energy dispute is about to be settled. Here's what's moving your money today. 1. Today's Inflation Report Could Set the Tone for September Statistics Canada releases July's Consumer Price Index this morning. Economists are expecting the annual rate to tick up to roughly 2.9%, from 2.8% in June, mainly because gasoline prices swung higher again in July after the Middle East conflict pushed oil prices back up. Core inflation measures, which the Bank of Canada watches most closely, aren't expected to move much. What it means for you: A hotter-than-expected print would make it less likely the Bank of Canada cuts rates at its September 2 meeting, which matters if you're renewing a variable-rate mortgage or carrying a line of credit. A softer number keeps a cut on the table. 2. The Tariff Deadline Is Two Days Away, and Talks Are...

article

Stock Market Today: Futures Slide Amid Government Shutdown Fears and Sticky Inflation

                                         

U.S. stock futures took a hit on Friday as investors braced for a potential government shutdown and digested mixed inflation data. Futures tied to the S&P 500 dropped 1%, while Nasdaq futures plunged 1.3%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell around 0.5%.

The looming government shutdown, driven by the House of Representatives voting against a spending bill, has heightened concerns among investors. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, showed a slight month-over-month increase of 0.1% in November, indicating persistent inflationary pressures.

Key companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom faced significant pressure, while Tesla saw a 6% drop following a vehicle recall. Bitcoin prices also retreated nearly 10% amid record ETF outflows.

Investors remain cautious as they await further developments on both the political and economic fronts.



Comments