Skip to main content

Featured

Markets Digest Hot U.S. Inflation as Iran Tensions Keep Oil Elevated

Publication:  moneysavings.ca / Canadian Money Brief  Date:  Tuesday, May 13, 2026 The TSX opens cautiously Wednesday after hotter-than-expected U.S. CPI data rattled Wall Street on Tuesday, while Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue to lift energy stocks and pressure the loonie toward 1.35 against the greenback. TSX ~34,291 S&P 500 7,400.96 ▼0.16% WTI Oil ~$102/bbl ▲ Gold ~$4,721 USD/oz ▼ USD/CAD ~1.35 US CPI Apr 3.8% ▲ (est. 3.7%) Market Overview Canadian investors are starting Wednesday on a cautious note following a mixed session south of the border. U.S. equities dipped Tuesday after April's consumer price index came in at 3.8% — a touch above the 3.7% consensus forecast and the highest reading since May 2023 — while the core rate held at 2.8%, also above expectations. The data has effectively closed the door on any Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026, with traders now pricing in a roughly 70% chance of a rate hike by April 2027. For Canadians, the ripple effects...

article

China's Bold Counterstrike in Escalating Trade War

China has intensified the global trade war by imposing sweeping tariffs of 34% on all U.S. goods, marking a significant escalation in its economic standoff with the United States. This move comes in response to President Donald Trump's recent "Liberation Day" tariffs, which raised U.S. tariff barriers to unprecedented levels. Beijing's retaliatory measures also include export controls on rare earth materials and the addition of several entities to its "unreliable entity" list.

The repercussions of this trade war are reverberating across global markets, with fears of a recession looming large. Major stock indices have suffered sharp declines, and investment banks are warning of a potential contraction in global trade volumes. As tensions rise, the World Trade Organization has been drawn into the fray, with China filing a lawsuit against the U.S. over its tariff policies.

This escalating conflict underscores the fragility of international trade relations and raises questions about the long-term impact on the global economy. Will cooler heads prevail, or is this just the beginning of a prolonged economic battle? Only time will tell.

Comments