📈 Feature presentation

Good morning. The NHL playoffs start tomorrow, meaning we are once again begging the hockey gods to end Canada's 33-year Stanley Cup drought. This year, three squads have a chance to break it: the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Edmonton Oilers. 

While none of them are considered favourites, anything can happen. Plus, you just know the Oilers are feeling pretty good considering the Florida Panthers — the team that defeated them in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in the past two years — failed to make the playoffs.

Today’s reading time is 6 minutes. 

Markets: Canada’s main stock index fell yesterday as higher oil prices tanked consumer-related shares, with investors fretting over the effects of elevated energy costs.

Like a divorced dad who’s finally ready to love again, Canada’s biggest movie theatre chain has put itself on the open market.

Driving the news: Cineplex is reportedly looking for interested buyers, sources told Bloomberg. The chain is in early discussions to potentially merge with one of two other theatre owners: U.S.-based Cinemark Holdings or U.K.-based Regal Cineworld Group.

Catch-up: Cineplex has a messy history with Cineworld. The chain was supposed to buy Cineplex, agreeing to a $2.8 billion takeover in 2019. However, Cineworld backed out of the deal when the pandemic briefly killed in-person moviegoing and later filed for bankruptcy.

Why it’s happening: The death of moviegoing has been greatly exaggerated, as many people — particularly younger folks, as it turns out — love the communal theatre experience. For now, the industry looks solid, and Cineplex likely wants to sell while the iron is still hot. 

Why it matters: Cineplex essentially has a monopoly over film exhibitions in Canada, controlling about three-quarters of box office revenues. A merger with either of these chains would mean that de facto control of the industry would now be in foreign hands.—QH

Xanadu’s stock surge triggered four trading halts on the TSX. The Toronto-based quantum computing firm has been on a wild ride since going public last month, with its stock up ~177% since its debut and over 250% this week. Trading of Xanadu shares was halted four separate times yesterday on the TSX because of rapid changes — the stock was up more than 68% on the day at one point. Thanks to the rally, CEO Christian Weedbrook is now officially a billionaire. (Globe and Mail)

OpenAI rolls out a new model for drug discovery. The AI startup unveiled a new model called GPT-Rosalind, which is specifically designed to help researchers deal with large datasets and speed up the process of turning scientific research into drug treatments. Moderna, drugmaker Amgen, and research group the Allen Institute are among the first to get access to the model. (Bloomberg News)

First Capital REIT sold in a $9 billion deal. Real estate firm KingSett and Choice Properties — which is owned mostly by the Weston family — are buying First Capital, a retail-focused landlord that primarily holds leases for shopping centres in major cities. Choice Properties, which was spun out from Loblaws Co. in 2013, will take over $5 billion worth of First Capital’s properties, most of which are home to grocery stores. (The Canadian Press)

📡 What else is on our radar: 

Tariffs. Rate uncertainty. Geopolitical noise. If your portfolio has felt the turbulence lately, you're not imagining it — and you're not alone.

That's where HVOI comes in. The Harvest Low Volatility Income ETF is built for exactly this kind of environment: 100% Canadian equities, designed to reduce the ups and downs that make investing feel like a white-knuckle ride.

Here's what HVOI brings to your portfolio:

When uncertainty is the new normal, a steadier portfolio isn't just nice to have. It's the whole point.

Explore HVOI and see how it fits your strategy.*

*Disclaimer: ETFs Investments involve fees, are not guaranteed and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the prospectus before investing.

OpenAI is acquiring the AI personal finance startup Hiro Finance. The California-based startup specializes in AI-powered financial planning based on users' individual salaries, costs, and other financial details. Hiro says since it was founded in 2024, it has helped customers manage over US$1 billion in assets. 

Why it matters: OpenAI is making a push into the personal finance space, a category that more people are turning to chatbots for help with. A BMO/Ipsos poll found that one-third of Canadians use AI to help with their financial management, including budgeting and investment advice.

It’s a very good time to be in the wellness-maxxing business.  

Driving the news: Toronto's go-to superfood cafe, Nutbar, is expanding to the U.S. with a new store in New York City. The Greenwich Village spot will be Nutbar’s first outside of Toronto, where it currently has six locations.  

Catch-up: Nutbar has become a hit among the health-conscious, morning Pilates, cold plunge crowd. Its menu of $18 collagen smoothies, matcha drinks, and medicinal mushrooms has built a cult following, with some drawing comparisons to the luxe California health food bar, Erewhon. 

Why it matters: Nutbar was on the ground floor of the wellness movement before it really picked up steam. Now, with more Canadians trading boozy nights out for morning workouts, saunas, and green juices, the cafe is reaping the rewards.  

Zoom out: Another Canadian beneficiary of the wellness boom is buzzy bathhouse Othership, which is also expanding across NYC. Funnily enough, the founder of Nutbar and co-founder of Othership are siblings and have neighbouring Toronto locations. We’re gonna go out on a limb and say there are a lot of cold plungers grabbing a green juice on their way home.—LA

🌎 Hint: People around the world come to this vibrant city to party, listen to some sizzling hot jazz, and enjoy the unique Creole cuisine. It’s famous for fried oysters, the beignet doughnut, and a certain shrimp sandwich that has gained popularity well beyond the city's borders.

Think you have an inkling where this is? Lock in your guess here.

🏡 $659,100. Average home price in Canada last month, the 16th consecutive month that prices have declined. The market slump is expected to continue this year: the Canadian Real Estate Association downgraded its forecast for 2026 home sales in a new report. 

Congratulations to the winners of last week's cartoon caption contest and thanks to everyone who submitted!

Want to see this week's cartoon and try your hand at another caption? Click here and give us your best witticism.

Do you remember what happened this week? Find out by playing The Peak’s Weekly News Quiz!

Then, it’s time for the mini-crossword, the daily sudoku, Codebreaker, and Who’s Who!