Author: Robert Jessi

Canada’s financial services sector, long characterised by stability and concentration among a handful of large banks, is undergoing a decisive digital transformation. Over the past 18 months, a confluence of regulatory reform, infrastructure modernisation and fintech innovation has begun to reshape how money moves, how data is shared and how consumers interact with financial institutions. The result is not merely incremental change, but the foundations of a more open, competitive and technology-driven system. The most significant shift has been the long-awaited arrival of consumer-driven banking, more commonly known as open banking. After years of consultation, the federal government confirmed in…

Washington Joins the Fight for the Yen

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – the benchmark US Crude Oil price – edges higher during the Asian session on Tuesday and looks to build on the overnight bounce following an intraday slump to levels below mid-$77.00s. The commodity currently trades around the $79.40 region, up 0.75% for the day, though it lacks bullish conviction amid the uncertainty over the ongoing war in the Middle ‌East.In the latest developments, Iran said on Monday ​there were no talks underway with the US, and there is no plan for any meetings. This contradicted US President Donald Trump, who has cited resumption of negotiations…

Analysts at Scotiabank expect renewed pressure on USD/CAD after its July decline, with a break below 1.4000 opening the way towards 1.3981 and the upper 1.39s. The US Dollar to Canadian Dollar exchange rate ended July near 1.4015 after falling 1.36% over the month. USD/CAD opened July around 1.4208 and reached a monthly high close to 1.4239 before retreating to a low near 1.3992. The pair remains 2.1% higher for 2026, having traded between approximately 1.3482 and 1.4248 since the start of the year. Scotiabank says the Canadian Dollar has benefited from the broader deterioration in US Dollar sentiment following…

The global economic landscape has been fixated on the Middle East since the US-Iran war started in late February, reacting to significant changes in crude Oil prices and assessing how they could influence inflation dynamics and growth outlook. Major central banks, including the Federal Reserve (Fed), made it clear that the conflict raised upside inflation risks, forcing them to move away from policy-easing intentions and reprioritizing price stability. But as the conflict potentially moves toward a resolution and Oil prices decline, another factor could complicate the inflation outlook: the Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment boom.Oil prices may fall, but AI could…

Weight loss stock wars: Key metrics to watch in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk results

 Canadian monetary policy is currently characterized by a deliberate pause, with the Bank of Canada maintaining its policy rate at 2.25% on June 10 as it navigates a complex macroeconomic backdrop. Policymakers assess that the current stance is appropriately calibrated to balance competing forces within the economy, including a weaker growth environment evidenced by a modest contraction in GDP in the first quarter of 2026 and persistent excess supply, alongside inflation dynamics in which headline inflation has been temporarily elevated by energy prices while underlying core measures remain contained in their trend.As illustrated in Figure 1, Canadian bond markets continue…

Commerzbank’s Volkmar Baur reviews the South African Rand (ZAR) after its earlier appreciation against the US Dollar (USD) stalled with the Iran conflict. He highlights deteriorating terms of trade, rising inflation above the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) new target, and July’s unexpected rate hold. Baur outlines several scenarios for ZAR, stressing that even in positive outcomes, Rand recovery will likely be slow.Rand outlook tied to SARB stance”We consider the July decision not to raise the policy rate to be a mistake. It suggests to the market that inflation trends and the associated risks are not being taken seriously enough.…

The US wanted a stronger yen, not necessarily a weaker dollar.Takeaways Joint US–Japan intervention has turned the yen from a one-way carry trade into a two-sided policy risk. Washington’s role matters more for credibility than size, while Japan still provides the financial firepower. A more hawkish BoJ and the prospect of a September rate hike give intervention a stronger fundamental foundation. Lower oil prices remove a major drag on Japan’s trade position and strengthen the case that the yen is building a durable bottom. Yen Is No Longer a One-Way Bet ( For Now)For years, selling the yen was one…

Analysts at Scotiabank expect renewed pressure on USD/CAD after its July decline, with a break below 1.4000 opening the way towards 1.3981 and the upper 1.39s. The US Dollar to Canadian Dollar exchange rate ended July near 1.4015 after falling 1.36% over the month. USD/CAD opened July around 1.4208 and reached a monthly high close to 1.4239 before retreating to a low near 1.3992. The pair remains 2.1% higher for 2026, having traded between approximately 1.3482 and 1.4248 since the start of the year. Scotiabank says the Canadian Dollar has benefited from the broader deterioration in US Dollar sentiment following…