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Gas Is Still $1.81 a Litre: Why Pump Prices Won't Fall (and What to Do Before Winter)

  Canadians hoping for relief at the pump got bad news heading into this week: it isn't coming soon. The national average for regular gas was $1.81 a litre on Friday, according to Kalibrate, with provincial averages ranging from $1.557 in Alberta to $2.156 in Newfoundland, per GasBuddy. That's after a big policy move. On Friday the G7 announced plans to release 100 million barrels of oil right away, starting with diesel. Brent crude dipped on the news, then climbed back to about US$102 a barrel by the afternoon. Don't expect the release to show up at your station, because crude is only half the story. Crude oil explains only half your pump price Wood Mackenzie's Jim Mitchell says crude makes up 50 to 60 per cent of the retail price of gas. The rest is the cost of refining it, and that's where the squeeze is. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem pointed to damaged refining capacity worldwide in a Sept. 21 speech, noting that pump prices reflect crude roughly US$40 a ...

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Market Jitters: U.S. Futures Slide Amid Tariff Worries, Tesla Takes a Hit

              

U.S. stock index futures experienced a decline on Monday as concerns over ongoing tariff disputes continued to weigh on investor sentiment. At 7:16 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis dropped 389 points (0.91%), S&P 500 E-minis fell 61 points (1.06%), and Nasdaq 100 E-minis slid 242 points (1.21%). The uncertainty surrounding trade policies, particularly between the U.S., China, and Canada, has fueled fears of a potential economic slowdown.

Mega-cap growth stocks bore the brunt of the sell-off, with Nvidia, Meta, and Amazon.com all seeing premarket declines of over 1.3%. Tesla shares fell 2.4% after UBS lowered its forecast for the automaker's first-quarter deliveries and reduced its price target for the stock.

The broader market also reflected investor caution. Futures tied to the small-cap Russell 2000 index dropped 0.9%, while Treasury bonds saw increased demand as a safe-haven asset. Banking stocks, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America, also faced declines, with the broader banks index down over 8% for March.

Adding to the unease, China's retaliatory tariffs on select U.S. imports took effect on Monday, with additional U.S. tariffs on base metals expected later in the week. Investors are closely monitoring these developments, along with upcoming data on inflation, job openings, and consumer confidence, which could provide further insights into the health of the economy.

Tesla's decline highlights the challenges faced by the electric vehicle maker amid bearish forecasts and broader market volatility. The company's stock has been under pressure due to concerns over demand and pricing strategies.



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