South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Micron Earnings 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Canada's economy kicked off 2026 on steady footing, with real gross domestic product rising 0.1% in January — slightly ahead of market expectations — following a 0.2% gain in December 2025. The modest expansion was largely driven by goods-producing industries, which collectively grew 0.2%, masking weakness elsewhere in the economy.
The energy sector was a standout performer, surging 1.2% as crude petroleum output climbed in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan. Mining, quarrying, and construction also contributed positively, with the construction sector recording its third straight monthly gain at 1.1%. Residential building and engineering projects both hit new highs during the period, signaling continued confidence in Canada's infrastructure and housing development pipeline.
Manufacturing, however, moved in the opposite direction, contracting 1.4% due to extended holiday shutdowns at automotive plants in Ontario. This weakness spilled over into wholesale trade and machinery production, putting a ceiling on broader economic momentum. Extreme winter conditions added further pressure on the services sector, disrupting transit networks and air travel across the country.
On the financial side, record foreign investment in Canadian bonds pushed the finance and insurance industry up 0.5%, marking its strongest monthly performance since late 2025. Heightened international demand for Canadian debt underscored ongoing global confidence in the country's fiscal stability.
Looking at the broader picture, CIBC economist Katherine Judge noted that the January result leaves first-quarter GDP tracking in line with the Bank of Canada's forecast of just under 2% annualized growth. Statistics Canada's advance estimate also points to a 0.2% GDP gain in February, suggesting the manufacturing sector is beginning to recover from its January slowdown.
Overall, Canada's economy is navigating a mixed landscape — balancing resource sector strength against industrial headwinds — as it moves through the early months of 2026.
