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TSX Rebounds as Oil Climbs and Canada’s Jobs Data Lands

  Friday, May 8, 2026  ·  Canadian Money Brief  ·  moneysavings.ca TSX Opens Higher After Thursday Dip Canadian stocks are staging a recovery Friday morning, with the S&P/TSX Composite climbing back after a rough Thursday. The index shed 0.4% to close at 33,857 as investors locked in recent gains ahead of U.S. and Canadian jobs data due Friday — with energy shares dragging it lower as oil pulled back. As of Friday morning, the TSX had recovered to around 33,932, up roughly 1.1% , following positive cues from Wall Street futures. Oil Back in Focus: Geopolitics Drive WTI Toward $96 WTI crude futures climbed toward $96 per barrel on Friday , recouping some of the week’s losses as fresh clashes between the U.S. and Iran threatened to derail diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. U.S. Central Command confirmed American forces intercepted Iranian attacks and carried out defensive strikes, while guided missile destroyers passed through the Strait of Ho...
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Are rate hikes over for Canada


The Canadian economy is expected to show a modest growth of 0.4% in the third quarter of 2023, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. This is lower than the 0.6% expansion in the previous quarter, and well below the 2.1% growth rate that the Bank of Canada projected in July.

The weak GDP numbers have fueled the speculation that the country may be heading into a recession, as global trade tensions, lower oil prices, and household debt weigh on the economic outlook. 

However, not everyone is convinced that the situation is so dire. Some forecasters argue that the third quarter slowdown was mainly due to temporary factors, such as a strike at a major auto plant, a drop in agricultural output due to drought, and a slowdown in housing construction. They expect that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter, as these factors dissipate and consumer spending picks up.

Moreover, some forecasters point out that the inflation rate remains within the central bank's target range of 1% to 3%, suggesting that there is no need for further monetary stimulus. They also note that the labour market remains strong, with the unemployment rate at a near-record low of 5.5%, and wage growth at a solid 3.2%.

Therefore, some forecasters believe that the Bank of Canada will maintain its wait-and-see approach, and keep interest rates unchanged until there are clear signs of either a sustained recovery or a prolonged downturn. They argue that the central bank has already done enough to support the economy, by cutting interest rates three times in 2022, and that any further easing could fuel financial imbalances and inflationary pressures.

In summary, the GDP numbers for the third quarter of 2023 are likely to spark more debate about the state of the Canadian economy and the direction of monetary policy. However, some forecasters are more optimistic than others, and think that the rate hikes are over for now, unless there is a significant change in the economic conditions.

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