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…

USD Thursday brought the stagflationary mix into full view. A twelfth consecutive day of US-Iran strikes and Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers, which threaten to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait even as Hormuz shipping sits near a standstill, sent above $100 for the first time in two months, with settling above $90. President Trump’s threat of a massive attack on Iran, exceeding anything prior, deepened the risk-off tone: rose to 4.70%, the fell over 2%, and the dollar firmed, if unevenly, with reports that officials are exploring grounds to remove Fed Governor Barr keeping independence concerns alive. Jobless claims at…

Silver’s spectacular rise and brutal collapse in 2026 may look like the classic boom and bust story. But the metal’s rollercoaster ride is more complex: Silver was caught in the crossfire of the Iran war as investors fled precious metals, the US Dollar strengthened and rate-cut expectations faded. But Silver’s industrial backbone remains intact, supported by surging demand from artificial intelligence, renewable energy and electrification. This should keep bears on hold for the rest of the year, unless another wave of policy uncertainty from Mr. Donald Trump changes the equation.Silver started the second half of the year trading near levels…

USD/CAD trades around 1.4095 on Friday at the time of writing, up a modest 0.06% as the US Dollar (USD) retains a slight advantage following the release of solid US economic data, while the Canadian Dollar (CAD) remains pressured by weak domestic indicators and softer Oil prices.The United States (US) S&P Global Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 53.6 in July from 51.9 in June, signaling an acceleration in private sector activity. The Services PMI improved to 53.6, while the Manufacturing PMI eased slightly to 53.8 from 53.9. According to Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market…

The Canadian dollar gained ground against the U.S. dollar Thursday. Crude oil, Canada’s most important export, surged more than 2% to $78.46 a barrel, and the loonie moved right along with it. Canada sits among the world’s biggest oil producers, so the link between crude prices and the currency isn’t subtle — it’s pretty much baked into how traders think about the Canadian dollar every single day. When oil rallies, money tends to flow toward the loonie. When oil drops, the currency usually feels it fast. Thursday’s session was a clean example of that relationship playing out in real time.…

Most new employees can benefit from an onboarding process that includes information about claiming reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses, pension contributions, or how to deduct unreimbursed costs. Here’s a primer to share. A tax credit for every employee A non-refundable tax credit is available for all people who report employment income. It’s called the Canada Employment Amount and it’s claimable without receipts to reduce taxes payable. It covers the costs of travelling to and from work, or other personal costs of working, like buying lunches, new shoes, dry cleaning and so on. For 2026 the maximum claim is $1,501 on the…

Why is Volkswagen stock sliding today?

Open this photo in gallery:Illustration by Sam IslandGood morning. Inflation can be one of the biggest worries when you’re planning for retirement. Watching prices rise while you’re living on a fixed income sounds like a recipe for stress. But what if it actually isn’t quite as scary as it seems? Let’s get into it.What’s your personal inflation rate? Canada’s latest inflation numbers may have made your heart rate tick up a little.Inflation accelerated to its highest level in more than two years in May as price pressures linked to the conflict in Iran began showing up beyond the gas pump.…

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of currencies, drifts lower during the early European session on Friday and erodes a part of the previous day’s strong gains back closer to the monthly high. The index currently trades around the 101.30-101.25 region, down over 0.15% for the day, though the downside seems limited amid a constructive setup.The intraday uptick could be attributed to some profit-taking heading into the weekend and some repositioning trade ahead of the crucial FOMC policy meeting next week. Any meaningful depreciation, however, still seems elusive as elevated crude oil prices continue…

Silver (XAG/USD) edges up on Friday’s early European trading session, returning to levels above $58.00 as the US Dollar trims some gains. The precious metal is set to a moderate recovery this week, but the risk-averse scenario triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the higher US Treasury yields triggered a 4.3% reversal on Thursday that leaves Silver vulnerable to further depreciation. Market sentiment remains unfavourable, with Oil prices rallying and Brent crude drawing closer to the key $100 level, as reports of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea increased concerns about the blockade of another…