This is the open brief for Wed, Apr 8, 2026. View latest

The XEQT Brief Archive Logo

Open Edition. Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Market context for passive investors.

Archive

$41.66
+2.64%

Headline

Iran ceasefire lifts global equities broadly at Wednesday's open

A two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, reached late Tuesday and contingent on Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, has sent global equities sharply higher at the open on Wednesday. The relief rally is broad-based, with U.S. futures pointing to a strong open, European stocks up roughly 4%, and emerging-market assets posting some of their best gains in years. XEQT is opening up 2.64%, with all four sleeves in positive territory and the U.S. and international developed sleeves contributing the most to that move.

The Regions

  • Canada

    26.33% of XEQT

    • XIC.TO
    +1.53% +0.40 pts to XEQT

    XIC.TO is up 1.53% at the open, a more measured gain than other sleeves, as the TSX entered Wednesday with energy-sector tailwinds from Tuesday already priced in; futures had signalled a strong open after the ceasefire news broke, with the Canadian market benefiting from the broader risk-on move but potentially tempered by oil prices falling sharply on the Strait of Hormuz reopening.

    Canada market region icon

  • United States

    43.28% of XEQT

    • XTOT.TO
    • ITOT
    +2.38% +1.03 pts to XEQT

    U.S. equities are up 2.38% early Wednesday, with the S&P 500 gaining around 2.76% at the open as markets cheered the last-minute ceasefire deal that averted threatened U.S. strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and removed a significant tail risk from the outlook.

    United States market region icon

  • Intl Developed

    25.19% of XEQT

    • XEF.TO
    +3.73% +0.94 pts to XEQT

    XEF.TO is up 3.73% at the open, the largest sleeve gain today, driven by a broad surge in European equities with the Stoxx Europe 600 up roughly 3.8%, its biggest intraday gain in a year, as travel, energy, and risk-sensitive sectors led the advance following the ceasefire announcement.

    Intl Developed market region icon

  • Emerging Mrkts

    5.12% of XEQT

    • XEC.TO
    +5.28% +0.27 pts to XEQT

    XEC.TO is up 5.28% at the open, the strongest percentage gain across all XEQT sleeves, as the Bloomberg report notes that the ceasefire pushed emerging-market stocks toward their best day since 2022, with developing-nation currencies also erasing year-to-date losses as risk appetite surged.

    Emerging Markets market region icon

The Hold Line

XEQT is up 2.64% at the open this morning, with every sleeve contributing gains and the largest lift coming from U.S. equities and international developed markets. A single geopolitical catalyst driving a broad, synchronized rally is a reminder of why diversification works quietly in your favour. Nothing about today's move changes the case for holding.

Signals

  • 01

    Oil prices fall on Hormuz reopening

    Oil prices fell sharply on the news that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen under the ceasefire terms, easing a key supply-disruption premium; lower energy costs are broadly supportive for equity valuations, though the arrangement is only a two-week pause and no action is required.

  • 02

    Ceasefire is temporary, not settled

    The ceasefire is described as conditional and lasting only two weeks, meaning the geopolitical risk premium has been reduced but not removed; XEQT holders should expect the situation to remain in the background and recognise today's move reflects relief, not resolution.

  • 03

    CAD/USD translation effect today

    With global equities rallying broadly today, the Canadian dollar's modest level against the U.S. dollar at 0.7217 means international gains are translated back at a slight discount for CAD-denominated holders, though this is a structural feature of XEQT's design and requires no response.

Email Briefs

Want one clean update and nothing else?

Subscribe and get The XEQT Brief in your inbox after every market close, or once a week if you prefer. Always matter-of-fact. Never sensationalist.

Cadence

Brief emails are free. Unsubscribe anytime.

Where to Buy XEQT

We recommend either of the two major Canadian brokers below. Buying XEQT on either is free. Joining with the links below gives you (and us) a cash bonus.

Can't decide? Open and test both before you choose. You'll pocket $75 if you're eligible and have two great platforms ready for your first XEQT purchase.