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Markets on Edge as Bank of Canada Decides: TSX, Wall Street, and Oil in Focus — June 10, 2026

  All eyes are on Ottawa this morning. The Bank of Canada is set to release its interest rate decision at 9:45 a.m. ET today — and while markets widely expect a hold at 2.25% , the accompanying statement from Governor Tiff Macklem will be dissected for any signal about what comes next. Against a backdrop of volatile oil prices, a recent technical recession, and a still-fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire, the stakes are higher than usual. Here's where the major markets stand heading into this pivotal session. 🇨🇦 Canada — TSX & the BoC Decision The S&P/TSX Composite has been navigating choppy waters. After a sharp 2.3% decline on June 5 — triggered by a blowout Canadian jobs report that added 88,000 positions, far exceeding forecasts — the index pulled back to trade near the 34,093 range on Tuesday before recovering somewhat to sit just above 34,500 . That jobs print, combined with a similar U.S. surprise, effectively closed the door on any rate cut hopes and forced a reasse...

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Aid World in Turmoil: USAID Contractors Face Layoffs and Cash Crunch Under Trump Overhaul


In a dramatic shakeup of U.S. foreign assistance, contractors working with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been forced to fire staff and grapple with severe cash shortages amid sweeping changes imposed by President Donald Trump. Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a comprehensive review—and subsequent freeze—of nearly all U.S. foreign aid programs. The move, aimed at realigning spending with “America First” priorities, has led to blanket stop-work orders that left hundreds of contractors without incoming payments for approved projects.

Contractors, who normally front project costs and then invoice the government, suddenly found their revenue streams drying up. As a result, companies reported laying off large portions of their workforce and initiating furloughs, with some citing unpaid invoices worth millions of dollars. The financial crunch has not only jeopardized the livelihoods of thousands of aid workers but also threatened critical programs abroad—from nutritional support for malnourished children to life-saving health initiatives.

Critics warn that these abrupt changes risk undermining decades of humanitarian work that has saved millions of lives, while supporters argue that the review is necessary to eliminate waste and ensure that aid spending directly supports U.S. national interests. As the situation unfolds, uncertainty looms over the future of U.S. foreign assistance, with contractors and aid organizations bracing for further disruptions and potential legal battles over lost benefits and unpaid debts.


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