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Weekly Market Snapshot: TSX Hits Record High, Then Retreats as Fed Shocks Markets

  Week of June 16–20, 2026  |  Published June 20, 2026 It was a week of records and reversals for Canadian investors. The TSX touched an all-time high midweek before a hawkish surprise from the U.S. Federal Reserve and falling oil prices — triggered by the U.S.–Iran interim peace deal — pulled markets lower into Thursday's close. Here's everything that moved the needle for your portfolio and wallet this week. 📊 Weekly Market Scorecard Index / Asset Level (June 19 Close) Week Change S&P/TSX Composite 34,857 ▼ Mixed (high: 35,629 Wed.) S&P 500 (USD) 7,500.58 ▲ +1.08% (Wed.) Dow Jones (USD) 51,564.70 ▲ +0.14% (Wed.) Nasdaq (USD) 26,517.93 ▲ +1.91% (Wed.) WTI Crude Oil (USD/barrel) ~$76.54 ▼ Sharp weekly decline Gold (USD/oz) ~$4,157 ▼ Fell on hawkish Fed CAD/USD (Loonie) ~$0.7068 ▼ Under pressure Note: U.S. markets were closed Friday, June 20, for the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday. TSX figures reflect Thursday's close. 🇨🇦 TSX: A Record High That Did...

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Provinces to Fund Nurse Practitioners for Primary Care by 2026

 

Starting in 2026, provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives. This change is part of a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. Federal Health Minister Mark Holland announced that regulated health-care professionals who aren't doctors will be able to bill the government for medically necessary services that would otherwise be provided by a physician.

The move aims to address the shortage of primary care providers and ensure that patients are not paying out of pocket for necessary care. Holland emphasized that charging patients for these services isn't consistent with universal health care and that nurse practitioners should be able to bill the health-care system the same way doctors do.

This policy change is expected to relieve pressure on primary care physicians and improve access to needed care. The changes will be enforced through federal health transfer payments, which could be deducted if patients are charged for medically necessary care.




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