Monthly Market Overview August 2026
LAST MONTH’S ECONOMIC EVENTS
- U.S. Employment Increased by 57,000 Jobs
- U.S. Unemployment Rate Decreased to 4.2%
- Canadian Employment Increased by 18,200 Jobs
- Canada’s Unemployment Rate Decreased to 6.5%
- U.S. Annual Inflation Rate Decreased to 3.5%
- Canada’s Annual Inflation Rate Decreased to 2.8%
- U.S. Monthly Retail Sales Increased by 0.2%
- Canada’s Monthly Retail Sales Increased by 0.4%
- U.S. Second Quarter GDP Growth Initial Estimate Decreased to 1.5%
- U.S. Federal Funds Rate Unchanged at 3.75%
- Canada’s Overnight Interest Rate Unchanged at 2.25%
THIS MONTH’S UPCOMING ECONOMIC EVENTS
- August 7: U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics Non-Farm Payroll (8:30)
- August 7: U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics Unemployment Rate (8:30)
- August 7: Statistics Canada Employment Change (8:30)
- August 7: Statistics Canada Unemployment Rate (8:30)
- August 12: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Inflation Rate (8:30)
- August 14: U.S. Census Bureau Retail Sales (8:30)
- August 17: Statistics Canada Inflation Rate (8:30)
- August 21: Statistics Canada Retail Sales (8:30)
- August 26: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Second Quarter GDP Quarterly Growth Rate Second Estimate (8:30)
- August 28: Statistics Canada Second Quarter GDP Quarterly Growth Rate (8:30)
1 (Source: Bank of Canada)
2(Source: Statistics Canada)
3(Source: United States Bureau of Labour Statistics)
4(Source: United States Bureau of Economic Analysis)
5(Source: United States Federal Reserve)
6(Source: United Census Bureau)
| Last Month’s Market Activity (for July 2026) | ||||
| Monthly Change | 2026 Change | 12 Month Change | Ending Value | |
| GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS | ||||
| S&P/TSX Composite (Canada) | 1.06% | 11.08% | 29.22% | 35226.14 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Avg. (U.S) | 0.32% | 9.2% | 18.93% | 52485.03 |
| S&P 500 (U.S.) | -0.13% | 9.41% | 18.15% | 7489.72 |
| Nasdaq Composite (U.S.) | -3.2% | 9.17% | 20.13% | 25373.85 |
| FTSE 100 (U.K) | 3.53% | 9.43% | 19.0% | 10868.05 |
| Dax (Germany) | 2.53% | 4.65% | 6.5% | 25629.24 |
| CAC 40 (France) | 1.26% | 4.42% | 9.49% | 8509.64 |
| Nikkei 225 (Japan) | -8.14% | 27.86% | 56.71% | 64362.02 |
| Nifty 50 (India) | 2.17% | -6.68% | -1.55% | 24383.60 |
| Shanghai Composite (China) | -6.4% | -3.44% | 7.25% | 3832.26 |
| Hang Seng Index (Hong Kong) | 13.13% | 0.99% | 4.49% | 25884.43 |
| BOND YIELDS & MORTGAGE RATE (UNITED STATES) | ||||
| 1 Year Treasury Bill Yield – U.S. | 2.1% | 16.73% | -1.34% | 4.053% |
| 2 Year Treasury Bill Yield – U.S. | 3.49% | 23.57% | 8.98% | 4.294% |
| 5 Year Treasury Bill Yield – U.S. | 5.81% | 19.33% | 12.51% | 4.448% |
| 10 Year Treasury Bill Yield – U.S. | 6.59% | 13.61% | 8.66% | 4.736% |
| 30 Year Mortgage Rate (Average) – U.S. | 2.61% | 7.51% | -0.91% | 6.722% |
| BOND YIELDS & PRIME RATE (CANADA) | ||||
| 1 Year Bond Yield – Canada | 4.83% | 9.25% | -3.99% | 2.646% |
| 2 Year Bond Yield – Canada | 6.08% | 12.79% | 5.4% | 2.914% |
| 5 Year Bond Yield – Canada | 8.73% | 12.54% | 8.46% | 3.274% |
| 10 Year Bond Yield – Canada | 8.39% | 6.75% | 7.13% | 3.664% |
| Prime Rate – Canada | 0.0% | 0.0% | -10.1% | 4.45% |
| CURRENCY RATES | ||||
| Canada/US Dollar | 1.26% | -2.12% | -1.19% | $0.713 |
| Euro/US Dollar | 1.0% | -1.78% | 1.06% | $1.154 |
| US Dollar/Indian Rupee | 0.95% | 6.14% | 9.04% | ₹ 95.402 |
| US Dollar Japanese Yen | -3.17% | 0.48% | 4.42% | ¥157.425 |
| US Dollar/Chinese Yuan | -0.62% | -3.46% | -6.24% | ¥6.752 |
| Bitcoin/USD | 7.45% | -28.14% | -45.66% | $62,911.16 |
| FOODS/GRAINS | ||||
| Coffee ($USD/lbs.) | 11.82% | -4.95% | 12.07% | $3.315 |
| Cocoa ($USD/Metric Ton) | 6.22% | -11.06% | -36.59% | $5,394.000 |
| Orange Juice ($USD/lbs.) | -7.2% | -23.78% | -41.05% | $1.534 |
| Sugar ($USD/lbs.) | -1.15% | -2.4% | -10.4% | $0.147 |
| Wheat (USD/Bushel) | 8.27% | 25.84% | 21.93% | $6.380 |
| Corn ($USD/Bushel) | 6.36% | 5.34% | 17.7% | $4.638 |
| Oats ($USD/Bushel) | -0.67% | 9.5% | -5.63% | $3.313 |
| Milk ($USD/lbs.) | 10.31% | 12.48% | -0.06% | $0.171 |
| MATERIALS | ||||
| Lumber ($USD/1000 Board feet) | -0.57% | 13.93% | -11.34% | $613.500 |
| Cotton ($USD/lbs.) | 6.32% | 27.04% | 21.41% | $0.817 |
| ENERGY | ||||
| Crude Oil (WTI – $USD/Barrel) | 24.89% | 51.17% | 25.32% | $86.800 |
| Natural Gas ($USD/MM British Thermal Units) | -14.75% | -10.8% | -10.11% | $2.792 |
| METALS | ||||
| Gold ($USD/Troy Ounce) | 1.49% | -5.59% | 22.4% | $4,098.600 |
| Silver ($USD/Troy Ounce) | -3.58% | -18.17% | 57.37% | $57.775 |
| Copper ($USD/lbs.) | 4.05% | 14.53% | 49.44% | $6.508 |
| Aluminum ($USD/Metric Ton) | 2.19% | 12.02% | 34.82% | $3,329.500 |
| Steel ($USD/Metric Ton) | -1.85% | -2.51% | -6.66% | $3,027.000 |
| REAL ESTATE | ||||
| Greater Toronto – Real Estate (Composite)1 | -0.6% | -0.2% | -5.4% | $940,800.00 |
| Canada – Real Estate (Composite)1 | 0.3% | 0.9% | -3.6% | $665,600.00 |
| COLLECTIBLES | ||||
| Fine Wine 100 Index2 | 0.25% | 0.1% | 3.0% | 319.9 |
| ¹Canadian Real Estate Association Composite Prices ending June 30, 2026. ²Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 Index ending June 30, 2026. *Data provided by FactSet unless otherwise stated as of July 31, 2026, 5:30 PM EST. * This information has been prepared by Desmond Rubie, BCom, FCSI®, CIM®, CFP®, who is a Wealth Advisor for iA Private Wealth Inc. and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of iA Private Wealth. The information contained in this post comes from sources we believe reliable, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or reliability. The opinions expressed are based on an analysis and interpretation dating from the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. Furthermore, they do not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any of the securities mentioned. The information contained herein may not apply to all types of investors. iA Private Wealth Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. iA Private Wealth is a trademark and a business name under which iA Private Wealth Inc. operates. *Insurance products are provided through iA Private Wealth Insurance, which is a trade name of PPI Management Inc. Only products and services offered through iA Private Wealth Inc. are covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. * This message may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if you have received it by mistake, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original without making a copy or disclosing its content. |
Desmond Rubie, BCom, FCSI®, CIM®, CFP® Investment & Wealth Advisor Rubie Wealth Management Group | iA Private Wealth Insurance Advisor | iA Private Wealth Insurance* 26 Wellington Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1S2 Mobile: 416-795-6100 Direct: 416-203-2228 Office: 416-203-2226 Desmond.Rubie@iaprivatewealth.ca rubiewealth.com Fellow of CSI (FCSI®) |
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