Current Economics
Today's Market Brief — August 13, 2026
What's changed since our last update on August 12 — Bank of Canada policy is unchanged and not repeated below.
Published 2026-08-13 · Educational information only
Markets Overview
U.S. stocks climbed to fresh records Thursday after July's producer price data came in softer than expected, reinforcing hopes the Federal Reserve can hold rates steady. The TSX also closed at a new all-time high, while Treasury yields eased and oil slipped.
Canadian Equities (TSX)
The S&P/TSX Composite rose 97.15 points (+0.26%) to a fresh record 36,759.29, edging past Wednesday's record close, with technology, telecom, and energy shares among the leaders.
U.S. Equities (S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq)
The S&P 500 briefly topped 7,800 intraday for the first time before closing at a record 7,798.99 (+0.65%). The Nasdaq jumped 0.81% to 26,803.03, helped by a roughly 18% surge in Workday shares, while the Dow added 0.13% to 53,839.99.
Bond Yields & Interest Rates
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield eased to about 4.66%, down from 4.69% at our last update, as a cooler-than-expected July Producer Price Index added to bets the Fed can hold rates steady.
Canadian Dollar (CAD/USD)
The loonie was little changed, with USD/CAD trading near 1.3942 (roughly CAD/USD 0.717).
Commodities (Oil & Gold)
Gold eased to about US$4,354 an ounce (-1.23% on the day), pulling back from yesterday's surge. WTI crude slipped to around US$82 a barrel.
Inflation & Economic Data
July's U.S. Producer Price Index was flat month over month, cooler than the 0.2% increase economists expected, and the annual rate eased sharply to 4.7% from 5.5% in June — a favourable wholesale-inflation reading that reinforces expectations the Fed holds rather than hikes at its September 16 meeting. Canada's July CPI has not yet been released; it remains due August 17.
Global Markets Snapshot
Risk appetite stayed firm globally on the softer U.S. inflation data; markets now turn to Friday's U.S. retail sales and consumer sentiment data for the next read on the economy.
What This Means
Day-to-day market moves are normal and are not a reason to change a long-term plan on their own. If today's news raises questions about your own portfolio, protection, or goals, that is a good reason to book a 30-minute session rather than react alone.
Want to talk through what this means for you?
Markets move daily. Start with a 30-minute session to see how today's news connects to your own plan. No guaranteed outcomes are promised.
Book a 30-Minute Session About this data
Market and economic figures, headlines, and commentary on this page are gathered from third-party news outlets, financial data providers, and other public resources; we do not create or verify this underlying data ourselves. While updates are reviewed before publishing, third-party sources can be delayed, incomplete, corrected after the fact, or simply out of date by the time you read this, and market conditions can change within minutes. We make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any information sourced from third parties, and we are not liable for any loss or decision made in reliance on it, including losses arising from outdated, inaccurate, or compromised third-party data. This page is for general education only and is not personalized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice — speak with a qualified advisor before acting on anything you read here.
This website is for general information only and does not provide individual financial, investment, insurance, tax, or legal advice. Insurance coverage, eligibility, premiums, exclusions, and policy terms depend on the insurer, product, underwriting, and individual circumstances. Speak with a qualified advisor before making financial or insurance decisions.