News & analysis
The personal-finance angle on Canadian money — rates, markets, housing and the economy. By John Wilson.
Canada Adds 75,000 Jobs in July, Unemployment Falls to 6.4%
The economy created five times the jobs economists expected and the jobless rate hit a two-year low — though wage growth stayed muted at 2.8%.
TSX Climbs 245 Points as Materials Lead and the Loonie Firms
Canada's main index rose about 0.7% to 36,381 on Friday, led by miners, while the loonie strengthened to 71.72 cents US to cap a week bookended by a strong Canadian jobs report.
Toronto Home Prices Fall 4.5% as July Sales Slip
The average GTA selling price dropped to $1,003,956 in July, down 4.5% from a year ago, as sales edged 0.9% lower and new listings fell sharply, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board reported.
TSX Holds Nearly Flat as U.S. Markets Slide
Canada's main index slipped just 10 points to 36,136 on Thursday — far calmer than Wall Street, where the Dow fell 464 points — while the loonie firmed to 71.34 cents US.
Shopify Beats on Q2: Revenue Up 34%, Cash Flow Strong
The TSX's largest company topped expectations before Wednesday's open — revenue of US$3.58B (+34%), GMV of US$115.6B (+32%), and US$654M of free cash flow — and guided Q3 confidently.
TSX Rallies 1.6% as Energy and Miners Jump on Middle East Optimism
Canada's main stock index climbed 579 points to around 36,381, led by oil producers and materials, as hopes for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz lifted commodity-linked shares.
Shopify Headlines a Big Week as Q2 Earnings Land Wednesday
The TSX's largest company reports second-quarter results before Wednesday's open. The Street expects about US$3.43B in revenue (~28% growth), but a fresh 'Meta threat' downgrade has investors cautious.
TSX Rebounds More Than 400 Points as Markets Reopen
Canadian stocks came back from the long weekend with a bang — the S&P/TSX Composite closed sharply higher, up over 400 points, led by miners and tech, more than erasing Friday's pullback.
Canadian Markets Closed for the Civic Holiday — Where Things Stand After a Rough Week
The TSX is dark Monday for the August civic holiday. Heading into a short week: a Friday selloff, weak gold miners, and TELUS's surprise dividend reset.
Loonie Eases as Oil Slides While the TSX Sits Out the Holiday
Canadian stock markets were closed for the civic holiday, but the loonie and crude kept trading — the dollar softened to about 1.4036 per U.S. dollar as oil fell on easing Middle East tensions.
Canada's Economy Grew 0.3% in May, Pointing to Solid Q2 Rebound
Statistics Canada data show the economy grew for a second straight month in May, with StatCan's advance estimate pointing to a sharp annualized rebound in the second quarter after a weak start to the year.
Canadian Economy Grew 0.3% in May, Beating StatCan's Early Estimate
Statistics Canada says May GDP topped its own early estimate, with mining and oil and gas leading gains as the agency points to a stronger second quarter after a first-quarter slump.
Canada's Economy Grew 0.3% in May: What the Rebound Means for Your Wallet
Statistics Canada's May GDP report shows the economy growing for a second straight month, beating early estimates and pointing to a rebound after a first-quarter contraction — but what does it actually mean for Canadians' finances?
Wealthsimple vs the Big Five: The Chequing War Heats Up
Wealthsimple's latest results — nearly $17 billion in net inflows, about $155 billion in assets, and chequing accounts now outgrowing investing accounts — show the online challenger training its sights on everyday banking, with a no-fee USD borderless account next in line.
Shopify to Report Q2 Results August 5 After 34% First-Quarter Surge
Shopify will report second-quarter 2026 earnings before the bell on August 5, coming off a first quarter in which revenue jumped 34% and merchandise volume broke $100 billion.
Wealthsimple's Growth Story Just Changed: It's Becoming a Bank First
Wealthsimple's assets under administration jumped to $155.6 billion in the second quarter of 2026, but the more telling number is that chequing accounts, not investment accounts, drove most of the new sign-ups.
TC Energy Posts 12% EBITDA Growth in Q2, Eyes Top End of 2026 Guidance
The pipeline operator posted double-digit EBITDA growth in the second quarter and now sees full-year results tracking toward the top of its guidance range.
Wealthsimple Tops $155.6B in Assets as Chequing Accounts Outpace Investing Signups
The Canadian fintech's assets under administration jumped 24.7% quarter-over-quarter as new chequing account signups outpaced new investing signups for the first time.
Wealthsimple Draws $17B in Q2 as Chequing Sign-Ups Outpace Investing
Wealthsimple says new chequing sign-ups outpaced new investment accounts for the first time in Q2 2026, as the Toronto fintech pulled in about $17 billion in net inflows and pushes further into everyday banking.
Bank of Canada Minutes Detail Council's Weighing of Global Growth Risks Against Expected Rebound
Newly released Bank of Canada minutes show officials weighing global growth damage from the Middle East war against an expected second-half rebound, ahead of the July 15 hold at 2.25%.
Bank of Canada Deliberations Show a Council Content to Wait and Watch
Summary of deliberations behind the Bank of Canada's July 15 hold at 2.25% shows the Governing Council balancing trade and oil-price risks against signs of a resuming recovery.
Inside the Bank of Canada's July Hold: Officials Say the Inflation-Growth Trade-Off Is Easing
Newly released deliberations behind the Bank of Canada's July 15 rate hold at 2.25% show a Governing Council that believes the sharpest tension between fighting inflation and supporting growth has eased -- provided a global recovery, tied to retreating oil prices, materializes as expected.
Questrade Rebrands App, Adds AI-Driven 'Flows' Automation and Chatbot Account Links
Questrade is renaming its app and adding an AI automation tool called Flows, plus direct account connectivity with Claude and ChatGPT, as part of a broader July 29 rollout.
Canadian Home Prices Stay Soft in First Half of 2026, But Regions Split Sharply
Condo prices sank in Vancouver and Toronto while a detached-home surge in Regina and sales-free months in parts of Ontario showed just how uneven the national housing picture has become.
Canada's Housing Market Isn't One Market Anymore: Inside the H1 2026 Price Divide
National price data masks a housing market splitting in two: condo values are sliding in Vancouver and Toronto even as detached homes surge in Regina and parts of Ontario go months without a single recorded sale.
TD Bank Group to Issue SGD 350 Million in Singapore Dollar Subordinated Notes
The Canadian bank is offering SGD 350 million in Tier 2 subordinated notes with a fixed 3.125% rate through 2031, resetting thereafter ahead of a 2036 maturity.
Brookfield Raises $2 Billion for Middle East Fund Backed by Saudi PIF
Brookfield Asset Management has closed roughly $2 billion for a new private equity fund targeting the Middle East, with backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Canadian Dollar Slides to Near Two-Week Low as Oil Prices Drop Ahead of Fed Decision
The Canadian dollar touched its weakest level in nearly two weeks on Monday as falling oil prices weighed on the commodity-linked currency ahead of this week's Federal Reserve rate decision.
Loonie Slips to Near Two-Week Low as Oil Slide Meets Fed Watch
A sharp drop in oil prices, combined with cautious positioning ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision, pushed the Canadian dollar to its weakest level in nearly two weeks on Monday.
CN Posts Stronger Q2 2026 Earnings, Lifts Full-Year Outlook
CN posted double-digit revenue growth and higher earnings in the second quarter, prompting the railway to lift its outlook for the rest of the year.
CN's Q2 Beat and Raised Guidance: What It Signals for the Broader Economy -- and Your Portfolio
Canadian National Railway grew both revenue and profit in the second quarter and raised its full-year outlook, a combination that matters well beyond the company's own shareholders.
Why the TSX Keeps Hitting Records — and What's Really Driving It
Back-to-back record closes on the S&P/TSX Composite this month say less about the broader Canadian economy than about the index's heavy tilt toward financials, energy and materials — and the commodity prices moving those sectors.
Canadian Dollar Becomes Most Heavily Shorted Currency Ahead of New U.S. Tariffs
Futures traders have amassed their largest bearish bet against the loonie in nearly two years, dethroning the yen as the most shorted major currency amid tariff threats from Washington.
TSX's New Record Is a Story About Gold and Energy, Not the Whole Market
A 0.3% gain pushed the S&P/TSX Composite past its mid-July peak, but the rally's roots in gold-linked mining stocks and energy shares say as much about the index's resource-heavy structure as about the broader Canadian economy.
TSX Closes at Record High as Mining and Energy Shares Lead
Metal mining and energy shares pushed the Toronto benchmark to a new closing high, with gold's climb powering names like Agnico Eagle, Wheaton Precious Metals and Barrick.
TSX Hits Fresh Record as Energy, Mining Stocks Rally
Canada's main stock index notched its latest all-time high this week, with energy and mining stocks driving gains even as new US tariff threats loomed.
CMHC Sees Weaker Home Sales and Falling Prices Through Rest of 2026
CMHC's mid-year outlook update points to fewer home sales and lower average prices for the rest of 2026, with rental vacancies also expected to climb in major cities.
CMHC Sees Home Sales and Prices Easing Through The Rest Of 2026
CMHC's mid-year outlook points to fewer home sales, softer prices and easing rents in major cities through the rest of 2026 — here's what the numbers say and what they don't.
Canadians Grow Slightly More Optimistic on Finances, But Inflation Still Tops Worry List: TransUnion
A new TransUnion Canada study finds nearly half of households feeling more optimistic about their finances, even as most say their income still isn't keeping up with inflation.
Is Inflation Finally Beaten? Reading the June Numbers
Canada's June CPI cooled on nearly every measure, but a single soft month is not the same thing as inflation being over.
Canada's Inflation Rate Eases to 2.8% in June as Gasoline Prices Cool
Statistics Canada says the Consumer Price Index rose 2.8% year over year in June, down from 3.2% in May, as gasoline price gains slowed following an interim Middle East ceasefire.
Canada's Inflation Cools to 2.8% in June as Core Measures Hit Five-Year Low
Statistics Canada's June reading came in below forecasts as core price pressures fell to their softest levels in more than five years, with cooling gasoline costs doing much of the work.
Inflation Cools to 2.8% in June, But It's Mostly the Gas Pump Talking
Statistics Canada's June reading shows the annual inflation rate easing to 2.8%, but the numbers underneath the headline tell a more mixed story about what's actually getting cheaper.
Fixed-Variable Mortgage Rate Gap Widens to Nearly 1 Point as Bond Yields Climb
A spike in Canadian bond yields tied to renewed US-Iran tensions has pushed fixed mortgage rates well above variable rates, opening the widest gap between the two in years.
Gold Slump and AI Selloff Drag the TSX Lower to Close a Volatile Week
A drop in gold prices and a global AI stock selloff pulled the TSX lower, closing out a week where mining, banking and tech weakness fought against rising oil prices for control of the index.
Sales Up, Prices Soft: Making Sense of Canada's Housing Market
National sales edged up in June even as prices kept softening, and CREA's own forecast cut suggests the association doesn't see it as a one-month blip.
Gold Slump, AI Stock Selloff Drag TSX Lower to Cap Volatile Week
A slide in gold prices and a global chip-stock selloff pulled the S&P/TSX Composite lower Friday, closing out a choppy week for Canadian equities.
Corus Entertainment Cuts 43 TV Jobs, Shifts Alberta News Production to Toronto
Corus confirmed layoffs at Global News and Corus Radio stations nationwide as it consolidates Calgary and Edmonton production into its Toronto hub amid falling ad revenue and rising debt.
Bank of Canada Holds at 2.25% Again: What It Actually Means for Your Mortgage
The Bank of Canada's sixth straight hold at 2.25% keeps variable mortgage rates steady, but fixed rates are still at the mercy of bond markets — here's what renewing borrowers need to understand before the next decision on September 2.
Loblaw's Food Inflation Report Confirms What Canadian Shoppers Already Feel: No Relief in Sight
Loblaw's latest Food Inflation Report cites weather, freight, energy and trade pressures behind sticky grocery costs — and new Statistics Canada data shows beef and fresh vegetables still climbing well into double digits.
Loblaw's New Food Inflation Report Flags Persistent Grocery Price Pressure
Loblaw's latest Food Inflation Report points to weather, freight and trade uncertainty as grocery prices sit roughly 27% above levels from five years ago.
Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% for Sixth Straight Decision
The Bank of Canada left its benchmark rate at 2.25% for a sixth consecutive decision, citing oil-price pressure, US trade uncertainty, and early signs of a Q2 growth rebound.
Canadian Home Sales Rise Again in June as Prices Show Signs of Stabilizing
National sales rose for a third straight month in June while CREA's home price index held flat month over month, though prices remain below year-ago levels.
CREA Trims 2026 Home-Sales Forecast as Population Growth Slows
CREA now expects 463,336 home sales in 2026, a 1.4% downgrade blamed on a shrinking population base and supply shortages in Quebec and the East Coast, even as its price forecast holds steady.
Canadian Home Sales Rise for a Third Straight Month as Price Declines Finally Pause
CREA data show national home sales rising for a third straight month in June while the benchmark price index stopped falling month over month for the first time in a year and a half — a sign of stabilization, though prices remain below year-ago levels.
WestJet Flight Attendants Vote 99.4% in Favour of Strike Mandate
CUPE Local 8125 says 97.3% of roughly 4,400 WestJet cabin crew turned out to back strike action, setting up a possible walkout as early as the August long weekend.
Royal LePage Raises Its 2026 Home Price Forecast — But Not Every City Gets the Upgrade
Royal LePage now expects a 2% national price gain by year-end 2026 — double its earlier forecast — but the gains are concentrated in Quebec City, Montreal and the Prairies while Vancouver and Toronto are still forecast to fall.
Loblaw Sets Up Automatic Plan to Boost EQB Stake Toward 25% Cap
Loblaw is putting an automatic buying program in place that could push its EQB Inc. stake toward the 25% mark, and the market responded with a double-digit jump in the stock.
Royal LePage Raises 2026 Home Price Forecast as Spring Momentum Builds
Royal LePage lifted its national home price forecast on stronger spring activity, but Toronto and Vancouver are still expected to see prices decline this year.
TSX Slides as Middle East Conflict Sends Oil Prices Surging
A single day of Middle East fighting sent Brent crude up nearly 10% and pulled Toronto's benchmark index lower alongside Wall Street -- here's what the oil-driven selloff signals for Canadian investors.
TSX Slips as Middle East Fighting Sends Oil Prices Soaring
Brent crude jumped 9.6% after fighting disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, dragging Toronto and U.S. stocks lower.
Canada's Job Market Just Hit the Brakes. Here's What the June Numbers Show
June's jobs report showed hiring slam on the brakes and unemployment stuck at 6.5%, a combination that points to a labour market losing momentum.
TSX Climbs on Consumer Strength, But the Real Test Is Still Coming
The TSX added 104.86 points on consumer-sector strength Friday, but strategists say the market remains in a holding pattern with earnings season and an unresolved Middle East conflict both still ahead.
Canada Adds 18,200 Jobs in June as Unemployment Rate Dips to 6.5%
Statistics Canada says employment rose by 18,200 in June and the jobless rate fell to 6.5%, a marked slowdown from May's hiring pace.
Permanent-Employee Wage Growth Jumps to 3.7% in June
Statistics Canada data show pay gains for permanent employees picked up speed last month.
TSX Closes at 35,305.31 as Consumer Stocks Extend Rally
Consumer stocks pushed the TSX to a second straight day of gains as investors awaited earnings season.
TSX Rallies 264 Points as Oil Retreats and Tech Names Rebound
A broad rally lifted the TSX past 35,200 even as crude oil slid, with semiconductor stocks and a parallel U.S. advance doing much of the work.
TSX Equity Financings Jump 207% in June, TMX Group Data Shows
Companies raised $2.85 billion on the Toronto Stock Exchange in June 2026, more than triple May's total, even as the number of individual deals and new listings both declined.
TSX Jumps Over 260 Points as Oil Retreats and Tech Rebounds
Canada's benchmark index rallied July 9 as crude prices slid and semiconductor stocks recovered, with U.S. markets posting broad gains alongside it.
OpenText Cuts 400 Jobs Globally — But Not, It Says, in Canada
OpenText's second workforce cut this year leaves its Canadian headcount largely untouched and still growing, even as the global optimization plan grinds on.
OpenText Cuts About 400 Jobs, 2% of Global Workforce
The Kitchener-Waterloo software firm confirms a fresh round of global job cuts, months after a larger reduction tied to its multi-year optimization plan.
WCS-WTI Discount Narrows to $14.40 a Barrel as Crude Prices Rise
Alberta's heavy-crude benchmark closed the gap with U.S. light crude on July 8 as global oil prices moved higher.
Canada's Trade Surplus Widens to $4.2 Billion in May, Largest in Four Years
Statistics Canada says exports hit a record $77.1 billion in May as imports slipped, pushing the trade balance to its widest gap since 2022.
Canada's Trade Surplus Hits a Four-Year High. Here's What's Really Going On.
Statistics Canada says the merchandise trade surplus jumped to $4.2 billion in May as exports hit a record — the largest gap between what Canada sells and buys in four years.
RBC Names Co-CEOs for European Arm as Bank Pushes Growth Push
RBC has installed Sian Hurrell and Robin Beer as joint chief executives of its UK banking and brokerage arm, tasking the pair with speeding up growth across its European business.
TSX Opens Lower as Financials Swim Against the Tide
The TSX opened lower Monday as financials advanced while tech, energy, mining and healthcare stocks all fell — a split session that says more about sector mechanics than about where markets are headed.
TD Bank Names Jill Gateman Sole Head of Combined U.S. Commercial Banking Unit
The bank is folding its Corporate, Commercial, Small Business, and Regional Banking segments in the U.S. under one leader.
TSX Opens Lower Monday as Financials Buck the Broader Slide
Canada's benchmark index fell at Monday's open, with financials among the only sectors to hold gains as tech, energy, mining and healthcare stocks retreated.
Toronto Home Sales Rise 9.4% as Prices — and Condo Values Especially — Keep Falling
Toronto-area home sales jumped 9.4% in June even as prices fell across the board and condo values dropped nearly 9%, a split that reveals a market moving firmly onto buyers' terms.
First Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Payment Lands, Replacing GST/HST Credit
Ottawa's revamped, permanently richer version of the GST/HST credit made its debut deposit this month, with no action required from existing recipients.
Toronto Home Sales Rise 9.4% in June as Prices, Condo Values Slide
Greater Toronto home sales climbed 9.4% from a year earlier in June even as average prices and condo values declined, TRREB data show.
Western Canadian Select's Discount to WTI Widens as Heavy-Oil Demand Softens
The gap between Canadian heavy crude and the U.S. benchmark grew wider at the start of July 2026, with traders pointing to rising Strait of Hormuz crude flows and softer Chinese demand for heavy barrels.
EQB Completes Acquisition of PC Financial From Loblaw
Equitable Bank's parent company finalizes its purchase of Loblaw's financial arm, making EQ Bank the exclusive banking partner for the PC Optimum loyalty program.
EQB's PC Financial Deal Puts EQ Bank Inside Nearly Four Million Canadian Wallets
EQB's acquisition of PC Financial from Loblaw links EQ Bank to the 18-million-member PC Optimum loyalty program and pushes its reach toward four million Canadians — here's what actually changed, and what's still unknown.
BC's Higher Income Tax Rate Starts Showing Up on Paycheques
A retroactive hike to BC's lowest tax bracket means paycheques are now catching up on six months of underwithheld tax.
Ontario's Small Business Tax Cut: What the Drop to 2.2% Actually Means
A one-point cut to the combined small business tax rate takes effect this month, alongside a higher income ceiling for qualifying — here's how the mechanics actually work.
Ontario Cuts Small Business Corporate Tax Rate to 2.2%
Ontario's small business corporate tax rate dropped to 2.2% from 3.2% on July 1, 2026, part of budget changes that also raised the eligible business limit to $600,000.