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Mojtaba Khamenei’s Rise Sparks Market Turmoil as Hardliners Mobilize

People attend a gathering to support Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026.  Iran’s hardline factions mounted a powerful show of support for newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei , rallying across Tehran in a display that signaled a tightening of conservative control and diminished hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East.  The demonstrations, marked by mass gatherings and imagery linking Mojtaba to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscored the regime’s consolidation at a moment of heightened regional conflict.  Analysts warn that the hardliners’ unified backing suggests Iran is unlikely to soften its stance amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel. Global markets reacted sharply. Fears that prolonged instability could further disrupt energy supplies sent oil prices soaring and triggered steep declines in major stock indices. With one of the most significan...
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Toronto Stocks Decline Amid Surging U.S. Inflation Data

 

 Canada’s main stock index experienced a setback today, snapping a three-day winning streak. The decline came as bond yields surged following hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data, which dampened hopes of an imminent rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Key Points:

  1. Inflation Concerns: U.S. producer prices rose more than anticipated in February, driven by surging costs of goods like gasoline and food. This unexpected spike in inflation prompted bond yields to climb, impacting investor sentiment.

  2. Rate Cut Uncertainty: The market had been speculating about a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve in the coming months. However, with the recent inflation data, those hopes have receded. Analysts now believe that the first rate cut may be postponed until at least June.

  3. Sectoral Impact: Communication services and technology stocks faced headwinds, contributing to the overall decline. Communication services fell 1.3%, hitting a fresh four-month low, while technology shares reversed course to fall 0.6%.

  4. Lithium Americas’ Boost: Shares of Lithium Americas surged 12.9% after the U.S. Department of Energy granted the miner a conditional commitment loan of $2.26 billion. The loan will finance the construction of its Thacker Pass project in Nevada.

  5. Canadian Factory Sales: In January, Canadian factory sales grew by 0.2% from December, driven by higher sales of motor vehicles and chemical products.

Despite the setback, market participants remain watchful, adjusting their expectations based on economic indicators. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index closed down 142.28 points (0.65%) at 21,827.83.


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