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5 Things to Know Today (Oct. 1): Minimum Wage Hike, Cooler U.S. Inflation, Oil Below $100

  Thursday October 1, 2026 A new quarter, a higher minimum wage in Ontario and a softer inflation read south of the border. Here are the five things that matter to your wallet today. 1 Ontario's minimum wage rises to $17.95 today Ontario's general minimum wage climbs 35 cents, from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour, as of October 1 — a roughly 2% bump tied to Ontario's CPI. The student rate goes to $16.90 (from $16.60) and the homeworker rate to $19.70. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week earns about $718 a week before deductions. Federally regulated workers already have an $18.15 floor, which has applied since April 1. What it means for you: If you pay anyone by the hour — a cleaner, a part-time helper, a seasonal worker — hours worked from today forward must be paid at no less than $17.95, even if the pay period started in September. Workers should check their next paycheque. 2 Cooler U.S. inflation eases the pressure on rate hikes The Fed's preferred inflation gauge came i...

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Market Turmoil: UnitedHealth's Plunge Sends Dow Spiraling Amid Weekly Losses

The stock market faced another turbulent session as UnitedHealth (UNH) shares plummeted over 22%, dragging the Dow Jones Industrial Average down by more than 500 points. The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 struggled to find footing, with both indexes sputtering after Wednesday’s tech-led sell-off.

UnitedHealth’s sharp decline followed a cut in its full-year profit forecast, making it the worst-performing Dow component of the day. The broader market also felt the weight of uncertainty surrounding trade policies and Federal Reserve decisions, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of economic challenges ahead  due to tariffs.

Despite a slight rebound in the S&P 500, all three major indexes closed the week lower, with the Dow and Nasdaq falling over 2.5% and the S&P 500 down around 1.5%. Investors now turn their attention to upcoming earnings reports and economic indicators that could shape market sentiment in the coming weeks.


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