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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Rebound Amid China Tariff Retaliation and New Jobs Data

                                    

US stocks rebounded on Tuesday as investors assessed China's swift retaliation to the latest US tariffs and digested fresh jobs data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.2%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.7%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2%.

China responded to the new 10% tariffs imposed by the US with tariffs of its own on US coal, liquified natural gas, crude oil, farm equipment, and some autos. Despite the escalating trade tensions, some analysts see China's measured response as a potential opening for compromise.

Meanwhile, job openings in the US declined more than expected in December, adding to concerns about the labor market's cooling trend. Investors are closely watching these developments as the Federal Reserve considers future interest rate cuts amid ongoing inflation concerns.

Tech stocks led the gains, with Alphabet (Google) shares rising nearly 2% ahead of its fourth-quarter earnings report. Vaccine stocks, however, fell after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the Health and Human Services Department advanced to the Senate.

Overall, the market's positive reaction suggests cautious optimism as traders navigate the complexities of trade relations and economic data.



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