Before the Bell: What every Canadian investor needs to know today

Before the Bell: What every Canadian investor needs to know today S.R. SLOBODIAN PUBLISHED 49 MINUTES AGO UPDATED 2 MINUTES AGO COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Equities Global markets were mixed as technology shares got a boost from resurgent AI optimism, while the broader equity market struggled as oil rose back above US$100 a barrel earlier in the session and bond yields again headed higher. Wall Street futures were muted after the Nasdaq surged to its first all-time closing high since June 2. TSX futures were little changed. On Wall Street, markets are watching earnings from AutoZone Inc. Meta shares jumped by more than 11 per cent by the close ​yesterday in their largest one-day rise since April, 2024, helping propel a range of ‌AI-linked stocks, such as AMD, which hit the US$1-trillion valuation mark, while Intel and Arm Holdings jumped 12.2 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. “This suggests that demand for costly AI tools is robust and worth the hundreds of billions of capex spent by the hyperscalers,” Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said. “If there is widespread adoption of [Meta’s] Muse, it could add to demand for other AI tools, which could lift the AI sector, after a rough few months,” ‌she said. Overseas, the pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.18 per cent in morning trading. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.07 per cent, Germany’s DAX rose 0.15 per cent and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.2 per cent. In Asia, Japanese markets were closed for a holiday, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.18 per cent.    DOW FUTURES 52,484.00+9.00 (0.02%) S&P 500 FUTURES 7,829.50-4.00 (-0.05%) TSX 60 FUTURES 2,115.80-2.40 (-0.11%) PAST DAY 0.02% -0.05% -0.11% CLOSE, SEPT. 21 4:46 A.M., SEPT. 22 SOURCE: BARCHART Commodities Oil prices eased as ​investors awaited developments on potential US-Iran talks at ‌the United Nations General Assembly this week after more supplies emerged through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. The Brent crude futures November contract slid 0.75 per cent to US$99.59 a barrel. The West Texas Intermediate (​WTI) November contract was down 1.3 per cent to US$91.17 a barrel. The rebound in crude suggests traders need fresh developments on supply risks or diplomatic efforts before pushing prices materially lower, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. He does not see much further…