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5 Things to Know Today: 68,000 Jobs Lost, a Weaker Loonie and the Oct. 28 BoC Decision

  Oct 12, 2026   Happy Thanksgiving. Canadian markets are closed today, but the numbers that shape your wallet aren't taking the day off. Here are five things to know on Monday, October 12. 1. Canada lost about 68,000 jobs in September, wiping out 2026's gains Statistics Canada reported that employment fell by roughly 68,000 in September, following a 41,700-job drop in August. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.5% from 6.4%. Economists had forecast a small gain. Put the two months together and Canada has lost about 41,200 jobs so far this year, compared with a gain of 211,300 over the same stretch of 2025, according to Reuters. The losses were spread almost evenly between full-time and part-time work and were concentrated in the public sector. Workers aged 15 to 24 lost 48,000 jobs, Quebec shed 49,000, and Ontario's unemployment rate sits at 7.0%, the highest among the large provinces. Average hourly wages were up 2.3% from a year ago. What it means for you: A softening j...

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Megacaps Rally as Investors Await Inflation Data and Major Bank Earnings


The stock market has been on a roller coaster ride lately, with investors keeping a close eye on inflation data and major bank earnings. On Wednesday, the market saw a boost as megacaps rallied, with Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia leading the charge. The S&P 500 index gained 0.57%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.75% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.45%.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield held near 4%, and a $37 billion auction of the notes drew above-average demand. Communication services was the best performing of the 11 major S&P sectors, lifted by a roughly 4% rise in Meta Platforms’ stock to the highest level since September 2021, after Mizuho raised its price target to $470 from $400. Nvidia hit a record high after fellow chipmaker TSMC beat fourth-quarter revenue expectations.

After ending 2023 with a strong rally, stocks have struggled to find upward momentum, with the S&P 500 barely positive on the year, as mixed economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials have led investors to dial back expectations for the timing and size of any rate cuts from the central bank this year.

The market is reassessing its 2024 expectations in terms of earnings and interest rates, and really looking to justify the surge in prices that we saw in November and December. It’s sort of a good sign that the market is treading water early in the year because it implies that investors really don’t want to miss out on anything else that could be good.


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