US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Canadian stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index edging up 0.01% to reach a new all-time high. Gains in the REITs, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors helped propel the market forward.
H&R Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:HR_u) was the top performer, surging 17.22% to close at C$12.46—its highest level in a year. Allied Properties REIT (TSX:AP_u) climbed 3.81% to C$17.97, while Boardwalk REIT (TSX:BEI_u) rose 2.72% to end at C$70.95.
On the downside, Ngex Minerals Ltd (TSX:NGEX) dropped 4.36% to C$15.35. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX:IVN) slipped 1.51% to C$10.42, and TransAlta Corp (TSX:TA) declined 1.49% to C$14.50.
Market breadth was positive, with 511 stocks advancing, 320 declining, and 101 remaining unchanged on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, a key volatility gauge, jumped 10.94% to 9.53, signaling a slight uptick in market uncertainty.
In commodities, gold futures for August delivery inched up 0.11% to US$3,346.50 per troy ounce. Crude oil for August fell 0.76% to US$66.49 per barrel, while Brent oil for September dipped 0.42% to US$68.51.
Currency markets were stable, with CAD/USD unchanged at 0.74 and CAD/EUR holding at 0.62. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped 0.18% to 96.65, reflecting mild weakness in the greenback.
Investor sentiment remained optimistic despite minor pullbacks in energy and mining stocks, as REITs continued to demonstrate resilience amid broader economic uncertainty.
