Skip to main content

Featured

BoC Holds at 2.25%: What the Rate Decision (and Rising Gas Prices) Mean for Your Wallet

  Thursday, July 16, 2026 Sixth consecutive hold. A weaker 2026 growth forecast. And inflation that's running hotter because of gas prices, not the usual suspects. Here's what actually changes for you. The Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% on Wednesday, exactly as markets expected. No surprise there. What's more interesting is why it held, and what it revealed about where the economy — and your bills — are headed next. This was the sixth straight hold since the Bank finished its easing cycle back in October. But buried in the accompanying Monetary Policy Report were a few numbers worth your attention. The Numbers That Matter Overnight Rate 2.25% (unchanged) Prime Rate (typical) 4.45% 2026 GDP Growth Forecast 0.7% (cut from 1.2%) 2027 / 2028 Growth Forecast 1.8% each year May CPI Inflation 3.2% Inflation Excluding Gasoline 2.2% Unemployment Rate (June) 6.5% Next Rate Decision September 2, 2026 Why Gas Prices Are Driving This Decision Here's the twist in th...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Markets Cool After Hot July: Wall Street Slips as Tariff Deadline and Jobs Data Weigh on Sentiment

 


Wall Street Ends July on a Cautious Note Amid Tariff Tensions and Jobs Report Jitters

The U.S. stock market closed the final trading session of July with modest losses, capping a month of strong gains on a sour note as investors braced for President Trump's looming tariff deadline and a pivotal jobs report.

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 0.7%
  • S&P 500 slipped 0.4%
  • Nasdaq Composite dipped below the flatline after earlier gains

Despite Thursday’s decline, July was a solid month overall:

  • S&P 500 gained 2.3%
  • Nasdaq rose 3.7%
  • Dow ended the month nearly flat

Tariff Deadline and Trade Uncertainty

President Trump’s tariff deadline on Friday has markets on edge. While he extended current rates with Mexico for 90 days, broader trade terms with other partners remain uncertain. The U.S. also struck a deal with South Korea, applying 15% tariffs in exchange for duty-free treatment on many American goods.

Fed Policy and Inflation Concerns

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady this week, but its preferred inflation gauge—the PCE index—showed price increases accelerated in June, keeping inflation above the 2% target. Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that no decisions have been made about a potential rate cut in September.

Jobs Report Looms

Friday’s jobs report is expected to show the U.S. added just 104,000 jobs in July, potentially the weakest monthly gain since February. Powell noted that the unemployment rate remains the key metric to watch, as labor force participation continues to decline.

Big Tech Earnings Shine

Amid the macroeconomic uncertainty, Big Tech delivered standout performances:

  • Meta (META) surged over 11% on strong earnings and bullish guidance
  • Microsoft (MSFT) briefly jumped 8%, pushing its market cap above $4 trillion
  • Investors now await results from Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN)


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment