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What to Actually Buy (or Skip) Before the Aug. 19 Tariffs Hit

  Pulished August 15, 2026 Four days out, the "stock up now" advice making the rounds is mostly aimed at exporters, not shoppers. Here's what genuinely moves the needle on your car, wine, and grocery bill — and what's just noise. At 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, a new round of U.S. tariffs is set to hit roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian exports — dairy, alcohol, and vehicles among them — unless Ottawa and Washington reach a deal first. As of this weekend, the signals are genuinely mixed. Canada's chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, told a government advisory group Friday that there's still "a significant amount of work to do," with talks expected to run through the weekend. At the same time, industry executives following the negotiations told the Washington Post the two sides are inching closer to an arrangement that would pair Canadian concessions on autos, alcohol, and dairy with commitments on energy, defence, and critical minerals — in e...
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TSX Gains, US Futures Dip as Iran Talks Stall and Salesforce Earnings Loom

 


Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Canadian Money Brief — moneysavings.ca

Global markets are starting Wednesday on a cautious note. After a strong Tuesday session on Wall Street and a solid gain on the TSX, pre-market futures are pointing lower as geopolitical uncertainty around the US-Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz reasserts itself. Meanwhile, a packed earnings calendar — led by Salesforce after the bell — is keeping traders on their toes.

TSX — Canada

The S&P/TSX Composite closed Monday (May 25) at 34,830.89, up 1.04% (+359.53 points) — its highest level in weeks — riding optimism around a potential US-Iran agreement and a surge in mining stocks. Gold-linked names were front and centre: Agnico Eagle gained 4.6%, Barrick rose 4.2%, and Wheaton Precious Metals added 5.6% as gold prices climbed. Energy stocks were the main laggards, with Canadian Natural falling 3.6% and Suncor losing 3% as crude pulled back below $100 on hopes of a Hormuz reopening.

Investor attention this week is firmly on Canadian bank earnings. Results from RBC, TD Bank, and BMO are all due this week. Financials represent roughly a third of the TSX's weight, so these reports will set the tone for the index through the end of the month. On the trade front, BC Premier David Eby confirmed that a deal to supply Canadian liquefied natural gas to Germany makes the Ksi Lisims LNG project on the West Coast more likely to proceed — a positive signal for Canadian energy infrastructure.

US Markets

Tuesday's session was mostly a win for Wall Street. The S&P 500 gained 0.61% to close at a record 7,519.12, while the Nasdaq jumped 1.19% to 26,656.18, also a record close. The Dow Jones, however, slipped 118 points to 50,461.68. Shares of Micron Technology surged 19%, pushing the chipmaker above a $1 trillion market cap, helping lift the tech-heavy Nasdaq.

Wednesday's pre-market picture is less rosy. S&P 500 futures are down about 1.14%, Dow futures are off 0.81%, and Nasdaq futures are sliding 1.72% as of early morning. After-hours, Zscaler tumbled more than 20% after forecasting weaker-than-expected revenue for the current quarter, adding to tech jitters heading into the open.

The main event today is Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) reporting Q1 FY2027 earnings after the bell. Salesforce is down roughly 32% in 2026, and Wall Street is watching closely to see whether its Agentforce AI model can offset concerns about structural risk from AI replacing traditional software seats. Analysts expect revenue of approximately $11.05 billion, up 12.5% year-over-year, with earnings per share of $3.12. Options traders are pricing in a move of about 8.7% in either direction post-earnings. HP, Synopsys, and Agilent Technologies are also on the earnings calendar today.

Oil & Commodities

Crude oil remains elevated and volatile. WTI is trading around $93–$96 USD/barrel, with every development in US-Iran talks — or lack thereof — causing sharp intraday swings. The world may need to find ways to manage on less oil and gas if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to Reuters. India, for its part, is already rapidly diversifying its crude imports away from the Middle East as the Strait of Hormuz disruption cuts access to key Gulf supplies.

Gold is sitting near $4,493–$4,523 USD/oz, having pulled back slightly from recent highs. Market participants are monitoring the geopolitical situation closely, with US military officials reportedly briefing President Trump on potential operations against Iran, while Trump has stated that the US would continue its naval blockade of Iran until a nuclear agreement is reached. Gold remains well-supported by central bank buying and safe-haven demand.

Canadian Dollar

The loonie is holding relatively steady. CAD/USD is trading around 0.7237–0.7244, reflecting a tug-of-war between weaker oil (negative for CAD) and a broadly softer US dollar. Bank earnings this week could provide a near-term catalyst for the currency.

Global Markets at a Glance

Europe: Germany's DAX is navigating a roughly horizontal medium-term trend channel, with resistance near 25,400 — a break above that level would be a positive signal. European markets broadly remain cautious, caught between fading Iran deal optimism and resilient corporate earnings.

Asia: Japan's Nikkei 225 is in a rising trend channel in the medium long term, with no resistance in the price chart and further gains indicated. Singapore's Straits Times Index is testing support near 5,040. China's CSI 300 has been rallying toward multi-year highs, supported by domestic stimulus and easing trade tensions.

What to Watch Today

  • Salesforce (CRM) earnings after market close — key AI/software bellwether
  • Canadian bank earnings — RBC, TD, BMO results due this week
  • US-Iran peace talks — any Strait of Hormuz update will move oil and equities sharply
  • US GDP data & jobless claims — macro data due this week could shift rate-cut expectations
  • USMCA renegotiations — first formal round of US-Mexico-Canada trade talks now underway
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