The prospect of higher Canadian interest rates appears to be moving more clearly into view following the Bank of Canada’s latest monetary policy decision. Even so, analysts remain unconvinced that a hike will materialise before year-end.

As widely expected, the Governing Council voted on Wednesday to keep the policy rate unchanged at 2.25%.

The accompanying statement struck a distinctly more hawkish tone and appeared to open the door to a rate hike before the end of the year. The Bank said that with the economy and inflation evolving broadly in line with the July MPR, policymakers had agreed to leave rates unchanged.

“However, the upside risks to inflation have increased, while new tariffs make growth prospects more uncertain,” it added.

(Continue Reading – LiveSquawk)

OPEC+ is likely to keep its oil output policy unchanged for October at a meeting on Sunday, three sources close to the matter told Reuters, as the producer group completes the unwinding of one layer of production cuts this month and turns its focus to 2027 quota negotiations.

The meeting comes as the Iran war continues to disrupt oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing OPEC+'s influence over prices and market share. Unlike in the past, the group's supply decisions now have a ⁠more limited impact on the market.

(Continue Reading – Reuters)

Executives from Chevron Corp., GE Vernova Inc. and Eni SpA joined US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez to unveil a wave of energy deals aimed at boosting crude production in the South American nation.

The companies announced the agreements as part of a signing ceremony in Caracas on Wednesday, where Wright said the deals represented “tens of billions” worth of investments that marked a “transformation for Venezuela.” Rodríguez said the historic moves will soon create economic growth, while thanking US President Donald Trump for his administration’s efforts to reach “win-win” deals.

(Continue Reading - Bloomberg)

The coming week could be pivotal for Oracle and the AI complex. The day after OpenAI Foundation’s presentation at the Goldman Sachs Communications & Technology conference, Oracle reports earnings amid enormous enthusiasm for its role in the AI infrastructure buildout precisely at a time when questions surrounding OpenAI’s enormous infrastructure commitments, to Oracle particularly, are becoming increasingly important.

Wall Street is decidedly optimistic: 42 Buy ratings, eight Holds and just one Sell. Expectations call for roughly 28% constant-currency revenue growth, versus 11% a year ago, while adjusted EPS may rise closer to 18.5%. Revenues are growing faster than earnings. Contrast that with some hardware suppliers, like Micron, whose revenues are expected to finish their fiscal year ending 8/31/26 246% higher, while EPS is expected to rise more than 840% over the same period. One is capitalizing on outsized demand and pricing power - the other is footing the bill.

(Continue Reading – CNBC)