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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...

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Sweeping Layoffs Reshape the US Department of Health and Human Services

In a significant restructuring move, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated mass layoffs, with up to 10,000 employees expected to be affected. Notices of dismissal began circulating on Tuesday, marking the start of a major overhaul aimed at streamlining the department's operations. This reduction follows a series of executive actions, including the revocation of collective bargaining rights for federal health agency workers.

The layoffs span multiple agencies under HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Critics warn that these cuts could undermine the nation's ability to respond to health emergencies and ongoing disease threats. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the move, describing it as a necessary step to improve efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.

The restructuring also includes the creation of a new office, the Administration for a Healthy America, which will consolidate several programs. While the administration argues that these changes will lead to better outcomes with fewer resources, concerns about the potential impact on public health services remain high.

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