Skip to main content

Featured

Weekly Market Snapshot: Records Everywhere as a Blowout Canadian Jobs Report Meets a Shock U.S. Loss

  August 8, 2026 A short, holiday-shortened week still managed to deliver record after record. The TSX, the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, and Europe's major indices all closed the week at or near all-time highs — even as Friday's jobs numbers told two very different stories on either side of the border. Here's everything that moved your money this week, and what to watch next. The Bottom Line The TSX capped its biggest weekly advance in about four months, closing Friday at a record 36,381.23 after Canada added a blowout 75,100 jobs in July (versus 17,800 expected). Wall Street also hit fresh records — but for the opposite reason: US employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs, which markets read as reducing the odds of any further Fed rate hikes. Add in a fourth straight record close for European stocks, a wild swing in oil, and gold pushing toward US$4,400/oz, and it was a week where almost every major asset class ended up higher. 🇨🇦 Canada: TSX's Best Week Since April Canadia...

article

Market Turmoil: Stocks and Bond Yields Plunge Amid U.S. Recession Fears

 

In a dramatic turn of events, U.S. stocks and bond yields plummeted sharply on Friday as recession fears intensified following a disappointing jobs report. The latest data revealed an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate to 4.3%, sparking concerns about the health of the economy and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.

The labor market, which had shown resilience despite the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes, now appears to be weakening. This shift has led investors to reassess their expectations for future interest rate cuts. Traders are now betting on significant rate reductions for the remainder of the year, nearly doubling their previous estimates.

Treasury yields, which move inversely to prices, saw a sharp decline. The two-year yields hit their lowest levels since March last year, while the benchmark 10-year yields reached their lowest since December. The yield curve, which has been inverted for over two years, is now closer to turning positive, a historical indicator of an impending recession.

The bond market’s reaction underscores the growing anxiety among investors about the potential for a recession. The Sahm rule, an early indicator of recession, was triggered as the three-month moving average of the national unemployment rate rose by 0.53 percentage points. This rule has been a reliable predictor of economic downturns, adding to the mounting concerns.

As the market grapples with these developments, the Federal Reserve faces increasing pressure to adjust its policies to prevent a deeper economic contraction. The coming weeks will be crucial as investors and policymakers navigate this uncertain economic landscape.


Comments