Kenneth Cheung/iStock via Getty Images By Zain Vawda USD/CAD had a wild ride today, much like markets as a whole. Early in the session, the pair reached a fresh high of 1.3755, testing the peak set in January. Following a major geopolitical headline, the pair plummeted to an intraday low of 1.3683, testing critical technical support. By the afternoon, the pair settled into a flat, rotational patte...
Kenneth Cheung/iStock via Getty Images By Zain Vawda USD/CAD had a wild ride today, much like markets as a whole. Early in the session, the pair reached a fresh high of 1.3755, testing the peak set in January. Following a major geopolitical headline, the pair plummeted to an intraday low of 1.3683, testing critical technical support. By the afternoon, the pair settled into a flat, rotational pattern near 1.3715, as the market balanced a weaker US dollar against falling oil prices. The Trump seesaw continues The defining driver was President Trump’s announcement to postpone planned military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days. This triggered a "risk-on" sentiment shift, reducing the "war premium" and safe-haven demand that had been propping up the US dollar. Crude oil ( WTI ) fell nearly 12% immediately following the news, eventually stabilizing near $90 (a 7.5% intraday drop). Since the Canadian dollar is a commodity-linked currency, the massive drop in oil prices offset the US dollar's weakness, preventing the CAD from making significant gains and leaving the pair "flat." Remarks from Fed officials provided a backdrop of caution. Governor Stephen Miran urged policy-making based on long-term trends rather than "short-term headlines," while Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee warned that oil shocks remain "stagflationary," suggesting rate cuts might not happen until late 2026. Factors affecting USD/CAD moving forward Moving forward, the pair will likely be influenced by several high-impact variables: The five-day "window" established by the US for discussions with Iran will keep markets on edge. Any breakdown in talks or a resumption of strike threats would likely spike the USD and oil prices simultaneously. As Canada is a major crude exporter, the CAD remains highly sensitive to WTI price swings. If oil recovers on supply concerns, the CAD could strengthen; if de-escalation continues, oil may fall further, weakening the Loonie. Markets are close...
Investors who spent the weekend biting their nails down to the quick got a reprieve this morning as President Trump said he would postpone an attack on Iranian power plants. As a result, stocks soared on Monday, with major indexes up around 1.5% as of noon, and oil prices fell on hopes that tensions over the war would cool rose. However, it's a mistake to assume the oil crisis resulting from the w...
Investors who spent the weekend biting their nails down to the quick got a reprieve this morning as President Trump said he would postpone an attack on Iranian power plants. As a result, stocks soared on Monday, with major indexes up around 1.5% as of noon, and oil prices fell on hopes that tensions over the war would cool rose. However, it's a mistake to assume the oil crisis resulting from the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is fading, as the strait remains closed, and news from the region has been volatile since the war. In other words, uncertainty is still elevated, and that's likely to continue until the war ends. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), also known as the fear gauge, is up by two-thirds from the start of the year, suggesting investors expect a volatile market. Stocks are still down since the war broke out, and higher-risk stocks, like the tech sector, have been hit hard. However, there are some tickers that can provide refuge at a time like this. An all-weather stock to beat the oil shock One stock that has stood the test of time in both bull and bear markets and is well-suited to perform through the war in Iran is Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA 0.10%) (BRKB 0.15%). While Warren Buffett is no longer running Berkshire on a day-to-day basis, having passed the reins to Greg Abel, his imprint will remain with the business, and he continues to oversee it as Chairman. Buffett built a company designed to withstand economic shocks. It's diversified through its subsidiaries and stock market holdings across multiple stock market sectors, and, although Berkshire is exposed to cyclical forces, it has substantial energy holdings, meaning it could be a net beneficiary of the spike in oil prices. Two of Berkshire's top ten holdings are oil companies. It closed the fourth quarter with Chevron (CVX +1.67%) as its fifth-biggest holding, at 130.1 million shares, now worth more than $26 billion after jumping 33.5% this year. Occidental Petroleum (OXY 0.66%), a Buffe...
Key Points The spike in oil prices has driven volatility in the stock market and pressured most cyclical stocks. Berkshire Hathaway has fallen since the war broke out, but it's well-prepared to weather a longer war. Berkshire has large investments in energy stocks, and close to $400 billion to deploy if stock prices plunge. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › Investors who spent the...
Key Points The spike in oil prices has driven volatility in the stock market and pressured most cyclical stocks. Berkshire Hathaway has fallen since the war broke out, but it's well-prepared to weather a longer war. Berkshire has large investments in energy stocks, and close to $400 billion to deploy if stock prices plunge. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › Investors who spent the weekend biting their nails down to the quick got a reprieve this morning as President Trump said he would postpone an attack on Iranian power plants. As a result, stocks soared on Monday, with major indexes up around 1.5% as of noon, and oil prices fell on hopes that tensions over the war would cool rose. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » However, it's a mistake to assume the oil crisis resulting from the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is fading, as the strait remains closed, and news from the region has been volatile since the war. In other words, uncertainty is still elevated, and that's likely to continue until the war ends. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), also known as the fear gauge, is up by two-thirds from the start of the year, suggesting investors expect a volatile market. Stocks are still down since the war broke out, and higher-risk stocks, like the tech sector, have been hit hard. However, there are some tickers that can provide refuge at a time like this. An all-weather stock to beat the oil shock One stock that has stood the test of time in both bull and bear markets and is well-suited to perform through the war in Iran is Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB). While Warren Buffett is no longer running Berkshire on a day-to-day basis, having passed the reins to Greg Abel, his imprint will remain with the business, and he continues to oversee it as Chairman...
Asian corporate bond markets rebounded alongside other regional assets, lifted by signs of easing tensions and President Donald Trump’s comments on talks with Iran. Credit default swaps in the region — the cost of insuring Asian investment grade debt — fell by at least 4 basis points Tuesday, according to traders. The premium on Asia investment grade bonds over comparable US Treasuries also narrow...
Asian corporate bond markets rebounded alongside other regional assets, lifted by signs of easing tensions and President Donald Trump’s comments on talks with Iran. Credit default swaps in the region — the cost of insuring Asian investment grade debt — fell by at least 4 basis points Tuesday, according to traders. The premium on Asia investment grade bonds over comparable US Treasuries also narrowed by 1 to 4 basis points, they said. The recovery follows Monday’s broad selloff, when Asia corporate bond spreads widened more than six basis points, the steepest move since April 2025, after Trump threatened strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. Tuesday’s price swing underscores the speed of headline changes and the volatility of sentiment in tracking them. After issuing his earlier threats, Trump said the US would postpone strikes following what he described as “productive conversations” with Iran. The move eased immediate concerns over oil-supply disruptions and a wider conflict. Meanwhile, Asian stocks pared early gains Tuesday after an Iranian lawmaker’s comment on ruling out negotiations with Trump, underscoring the fragility of optimism around potential de-escalation.
A flight attendant still strapped in her seat survived being thrown from an Air Canada plane that collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, her daughter said on Monday. It’s a “total miracle,” Sarah Lepine told Canadian news station TVA Nouvelles. She said her mother, Solange Tremblay, had multiple fractures to one leg and would need surgery but otherwise was OK. An aviation safe...
A flight attendant still strapped in her seat survived being thrown from an Air Canada plane that collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, her daughter said on Monday. It’s a “total miracle,” Sarah Lepine told Canadian news station TVA Nouvelles. She said her mother, Solange Tremblay, had multiple fractures to one leg and would need surgery but otherwise was OK. An aviation safety expert said she likely was helped by being in a seat with a four-point restraint used by crew members. Advertisement “At the moment of impact her seat was ejected more than 100 metres from the plane. They found her and she was still strapped into her seat. She had a guardian angel watching over her. It could have been much worse.” The jet and fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport. Photo: AP The jet, carrying more than 70 passengers, was landing when it collided with a fire truck that was responding to a problem at another plane Sunday night. The nose of the Air Canada plane was destroyed, and the pilot and co-pilot were killed.
(RTTNews) - Indian shares may track global markets higher on Tuesday as bond yields and the dollar retreated, and crude oil prices plunged on signs of easing Middle East tensions. Brent crude prices plunged more than 10 percent on Monday following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to delay fresh strikes on Iran. Trump's Iran war comments also helped traders price in a few basis points worth o...
(RTTNews) - Indian shares may track global markets higher on Tuesday as bond yields and the dollar retreated, and crude oil prices plunged on signs of easing Middle East tensions. Brent crude prices plunged more than 10 percent on Monday following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to delay fresh strikes on Iran. Trump's Iran war comments also helped traders price in a few basis points worth of Federal Reserve easing by the end of the year. Benchmark indexes Sensex and Nifty tumbled 2.5 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively on Monday as investors confronted with surging crude prices, rising bond yields and a record-low rupee. The rupee closed flat at 93.53 against the greenback, after having breached the 94-per-dollar mark for the first time ever earlier in the day on persistent foreign fund outflows. Foreign investors net sold shares worth Rs 10,414 crore on Monday, while domestic institutional investors net bought shares to the extent of Rs 12,034 crore, according to provisional exchange data. FII selling on Monday was the biggest since March 13, while the DII buying was the largest since March 16. Asian stocks were broadly higher this morning, though regional gains remained somewhat limited on skepticism the U.S. and Iran were close to end of war talks. Brent crude futures were up more than 4 percent above $100 a barrel in early Asian trade after plunging over 10 percent in the previous session. WTI crude futures edged up by 4.4 percent to $91.98 a barrel as Iran war concerns persist. The dollar nursed steep losses against other major currencies while gold extended losses to trade below $4,350 an ounce on inflation and rate-hike jitters. U.S. stocks rebounded overnight following President Trump's statement that the U.S. and Iran have had "very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East" and therefore he has instructed the military to postpone any strikes against Iranian power plants and energy...
Market Snapshot USD/INR ₹93.97 +0.3% Nifty 50 Index 22,512.65 -2.6% India 10-Year Bond Yield 6.84% +0.09 Spot Gold ($/oz) $4,355.62 -1.2% S&P 500 Futures 6,602.00 -0.5% Market data as of 08:10 AM IST, Mar. 24, 2026, or the previous close for Indian markets. Data is subject to provider delays. Good morning... I’m Ashutosh Joshi in Mumbai, bringing your daily dose of market news and analysis. Indian...
Market Snapshot USD/INR ₹93.97 +0.3% Nifty 50 Index 22,512.65 -2.6% India 10-Year Bond Yield 6.84% +0.09 Spot Gold ($/oz) $4,355.62 -1.2% S&P 500 Futures 6,602.00 -0.5% Market data as of 08:10 AM IST, Mar. 24, 2026, or the previous close for Indian markets. Data is subject to provider delays. Good morning... I’m Ashutosh Joshi in Mumbai, bringing your daily dose of market news and analysis. Indian equities look set to bounce back from their lowest close in about 11 months after US President Donald Trump postponed strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure and pointed to new talks with Tehran. That said, early moves in Asia show investors seem wary of treating this as a turning point, especially with Iran disputing any progress. The initial reaction to Trump’s moves — Asian stocks up, oil down — has already lost momentum after a report that US allies in the Persian Gulf are inching toward joining the fight against Iran, signaling that markets remain extremely vulnerable to any new developments. Indian stocks, and the rupee, may struggle to show a sustained rebound in the absence of clearer signs of de-escalation. In today’s newsletter, we look at why: One brokerage says markets are near a bottom Foreign investors could see lower trading costs Fundraising momentum is faltering But first, a look at the bond market’s troubles. Markets Buzz: RBI Steps Back, Yields Jump Bond yields have jumped 16 basis points since last week, tracking higher oil prices, with Monday marking the sharpest rise since August. The move also suggests the RBI may be stepping back from actively supporting the market. Buying from the “others” category — which includes the central bank — has dropped to an average 4.1 billion rupees last week from 86.5 billion rupees earlier this month. While Trump’s l latest actions offer a glimmer of hope, the RBI appears willing to let market forces set the tone. For retail investors, the takeaway is simple: without the RBI’s support, financing costs could stay ...
Contractors could face fines of up to HK$400,000 (US$51,068) for failing to prevent smoking at construction sites in Hong Kong under a government proposal to improve safety following the deadly Tai Po fire last November. The proposals, outlined in a paper prepared by the Labour Bureau, aim to tighten existing workplace safety laws and impose a strict blanket smoking ban on all construction sites. ...
Contractors could face fines of up to HK$400,000 (US$51,068) for failing to prevent smoking at construction sites in Hong Kong under a government proposal to improve safety following the deadly Tai Po fire last November. The proposals, outlined in a paper prepared by the Labour Bureau, aim to tighten existing workplace safety laws and impose a strict blanket smoking ban on all construction sites. Construction workers could face a HK$3,000 fine for smoking on-site, while contractors would also be held responsible for failing to prevent smoking and could be fined up to HK$400,000. Advertisement The government will also consider invoking the general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance to prosecute proprietors or employees involved in serious cases, according to the paper. In such cases presenting a catastrophic fire risk – for example, a worker smoking near highly flammable materials – the worker would be liable to a HK$150,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment, while the proprietor could face a HK$3 million fine and the same jail term. Advertisement The paper, which will be presented at the Legislative Council’s manpower panel meeting next Monday, states that the smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites, whether outdoors or indoors.