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GTA & Vancouver Home Sales Fell Again in August — What RBC's "Recovery" Call Actually Means for You

  September 6, 2026  •  Canadian Money Brief Fresh numbers out this week from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) and Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) confirm what a lot of GTA and Metro Vancouver households already feel in their bones: the country's two biggest, most expensive housing markets are still shrinking on paper, even as the Bank of Canada holds rates and the trade war eats into everyone's confidence. At the same time, RBC Economics dropped a report calling this a market that's "finally taking steps" toward recovery. Those two things sound contradictory. They're not — but the gap between them is exactly where you need to be paying attention, whether you're a first-time buyer, a seller sitting on a listing, or a landlord watching your renewal math. What It Means for You: Prices are still down year-over-year in both cities, but the underlying supply picture — fewer new listings, tighter inventory — is the thing actually shifting. That...

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Escalation Shock: Trump’s Iran Threat Spurs Oil Spike and Global Market Sell-Off

 

                                  Asian markets broadly declined following President Donald Trump’s address

Global markets were rattled after President Donald Trump vowed to strike Iran “extremely hard,” sending oil prices sharply higher and pushing stocks into a broad retreat. Brent crude surged past $108 per barrel, while major indices across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. fell as investors reacted to renewed uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict. 

President Donald Trump’s latest warning that the U.S. will hit Iran “extremely hard” over the coming weeks has triggered a fresh wave of volatility across global markets. In a nationally televised address, Trump reiterated that U.S. military objectives in Iran were “nearing completion,” but offered no clear timeline for de-escalation—dashing earlier hopes for a swift end to the conflict. 

Oil markets reacted immediately. Brent crude jumped nearly 7% to around $108 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed above $106, reflecting deepening concerns over supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments. Analysts noted that Trump’s refusal to outline an exit strategy signaled that energy instability could persist for months. 

Stock markets across Asia and Europe tumbled as investors digested the implications of prolonged conflict. South Korea’s Kospi plunged 5.5%, while major European indices, including Germany’s DAX and the pan-European Stoxx 600, opened sharply lower. U.S. futures also slipped more than 1% across the board. Bond yields rose globally as traders fled risk assets, signaling widespread unease. 

The renewed escalation underscores the fragility of global markets amid geopolitical uncertainty. With no clear diplomatic path in sight, investors are bracing for continued turbulence in energy prices and equities as the conflict unfolds.

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