If you’ve felt the sting at the gas pump lately, you’re not alone. Since the US/Israel–Iran conflict began, oil prices have shot up and continue to climb. Brent crude oil is over 50% higher, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) nearly 70%. But the impact goes beyond filling up your vehicle, pushing up transportation costs and, in turn, the price of goods on store shelves – in other words, inflation. In this week’s update, let’s look at the differences between Brent and WTI oil (what are they anyway?), where does Canadian oil fit in, and why are these rising prices rippling through the economy.
Tag: aapl
Weekly Update for the week ending April 3, 2026
Relief Rally on the Horizon?
Exploring the sectors likely to gain – or stumble – if tensions ease.
Markets on both sides of the 49th parallel have been rattled by escalating Middle East tensions. With a potential ceasefire on the horizon, investors are watching closely to see which sectors could gain – or stumble – if hostilities ease.
A Brief History of the North American Stock Exchanges
As I mentioned in my November 28, 2025 Weekly Update [link to Nov 28 update], I recently came across a stock I assumed was listed on Canada’s largest and most senior stock market, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE), only to discover it was actually trading on its junior counterpart, the TSX Venture Exchange. That small mix-up sent me down a rabbit hole into how Canada’s exchanges are structured and how they came to be.
Weekly Update for the week ending January 30, 2026
How Central Banks Set Interest Rates
Interest rates are one of those topics everyone hears about, but few people really understand how they actually work. With both the Bank of Canada (BoC) and the US Federal Reserve (the Fed) recently announcing that they were holding their policy rates steady, it felt like a good time to step back and look at what these rates actually are – and how they’re set.
Weekly Update for the week ending January 16, 2026
Under Pressure: Fed Independence Under Fire
With apologies to Queen and David Bowie, the US government has turned up the pressure on the US Federal Reserve, and on Chair Jerome Powell in particular, to fall in line with President Trump’s push for lower interest rates. For investors, the question isn’t politics – it’s how this could rattle markets and shake confidence in US interest rates.
Weekly Update for the week ending December 12, 2025
From Wild West to Launchpad: The Story of the TSXV
A few weeks ago, I took a look at the history of Canada’s premier stock market – the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) [link to Nov. 28]. Also known as the big board, it’s the top rung on the TSX ladder. I also mentioned its junior counterpart, the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). This week, I thought I’d follow up with a closer look at this often overlooked but essential part of Canada’s market ecosystem. So, without further ado, in the words of Daenerys Stormborn – “Let’s begin.”