Author: Robert Jessi

The USD/CHF pair prolongs the weekly uptrend for the fourth consecutive day and climbs to a two-week high, around 0.8045, during the Asian session on Thursday amid a firmer US Dollar (USD). Moreover, the fundamental backdrop favors bulls and backs the case for further appreciation for spot prices.The initial market reaction to the in-line US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, released on Wednesday, fades rather quickly amid concerns about inflation risks stemming from volatile oil prices and the US-Iran standoff. President Donald Trump again claimed that the US has total control over the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has pledged…

Middle East tensions escalate – US inflation expected to tick lower – US dollar opens with modest gains. USDCAD open: 1.3936, overnight range 1.3918-1.3935. close 1.3925, WTI 83.07, Gold 4,415.70 The …

The Canadian dollar made a small advance on Wednesday morning.      The loonie was at US$0.7187 or US$1=C$1.3914 as of 8:37 a.m. CDT, compared to Tuesday’s close of US$0.7180 or US$1=C$1.3927. The United States Dollar Index was down 0.13 of a point at 99.70.      The American Petroleum Institute estimated U.S. crude oil inventories grew by 9.072 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 7 after analysts expected a 500,000-barrel draw. Brent crude oil dipped US$0.57 at US$88.34 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate declined US$0.43 at US$82.77/barrel.      The TSX/S&P Composite Index jumped 105.27 points at 36,581.19.      Gold rose…

Euronext wheat rebounds as Ukraine hits Russian grain terminals

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil trades in a narrow range on Wednesday as traders weigh a sharp rise in US crude inventories against persistent supply risks in the Middle East. At the time of writing, WTI trades around $82.20 per barrel, hovering near a one-and-a-half-week high.Data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that crude inventories rose by 17.422 million barrels in the week ending August 7, far above the previous week’s increase of 2.479 million barrels. Markets had expected stocks to fall by 1.4 million barrels. This was the largest weekly increase since January 2023.However, traders largely shrugged…

Rising oil prices and bond yields threaten risk assets as US-Iran tensions intensify. EUR/USD remains vulnerable as energy costs pressure Europe and support the US dollar. US CPI could trigger short-term volatility, but oil remains the bigger market driver. In recent days, and bond markets have been flashing warning signs for risk assets. Yet, investors seem remarkably relaxed. However, if the current situation doesn’t improve markedly, we could see stock markets stage a bit of a correction, and in the FX space, risk-sensitive currencies, as well as those where the economy relies on energy imports, could take a dip. With…

Summary:Robust Canadian economic data and broad U.S. dollar weakness outweighed falling crude oil prices, pushing USD/CAD down toward two-month lows Key upcoming catalysts include Wednesday’s US CPI release and new 50% US tariffs on Canadian goods effective August 19, both pivotal for direction Holding U.S. dollars carries risks from Federal Reserve rate cuts, whereas Canadian dollar exposure remains vulnerable to falling energy prices and trade friction Oil prices have fallen notably in recent weeks due to changing dynamics in the Middle East and evolving supply expectations. Despite this, the Canadian dollar has strengthened against the US dollar more than anticipated, with USD/CAD…

Summary:Robust Canadian economic data and broad U.S. dollar weakness outweighed falling crude oil prices, pushing USD/CAD down toward two-month lows Key upcoming catalysts include Wednesday’s US CPI release and new 50% US tariffs on Canadian goods effective August 19, both pivotal for direction Holding U.S. dollars carries risks from Federal Reserve rate cuts, whereas Canadian dollar exposure remains vulnerable to falling energy prices and trade friction Oil prices have fallen notably in recent weeks due to changing dynamics in the Middle East and evolving supply expectations. Despite this, the Canadian dollar has strengthened against the US dollar more than anticipated, with USD/CAD…

Gesco reports 4.8% revenue growth in first half of 2026

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…