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Nations React to Reported $1 Billion Fee for Trump’s Peace Board

  President Trump said the Peace Board 'will embark on a new approach to resolving global conflict'. Reports surrounding President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace have ignited global debate after claims surfaced that countries may be asked to contribute $1 billion to secure or maintain permanent membership. The board, envisioned as a body overseeing governance and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, would reportedly be chaired by Trump himself, who would hold authority over which nations are admitted. A draft charter circulating among diplomats outlines three‑year membership terms, renewable only with the chairman’s approval. It also suggests that nations contributing $1 billion within the first year could bypass term limits and secure a permanent seat. The White House has pushed back on the reports, calling them misleading and insisting that no mandatory membership fee exists. Officials acknowledged that major financial contributors could receive greater influence but ...

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Loonie gains as oil prices climb and Fed rate hike seen unlikely

The Canadian dollar edged higher against its U.S. counterpart on Monday as oil prices rose and investors bet that the Federal Reserve would not raise interest rates at a meeting this week.

The loonie was trading 0.2% higher at 1.3565 to the greenback, or 73.74 U.S. cents, after moving in a range of 1.3548 to 1.3590. Last week, the currency touched its weakest in nearly five weeks at 1.3599.

Oil prices climbed on Monday, supported by expectations of tighter supply and signs of economic recovery. Canada is a major exporter of crude oil, so the loonie tends to benefit from higher oil prices.

Investors were also looking ahead to the Fed’s policy decision on Wednesday, which is widely expected to deliver a rate hike of 50 basis points, the first since 2018. However, some analysts said the Fed could signal a pause in its tightening cycle amid signs of slowing growth and inflation in the U.S.

“The market is pricing in a very dovish Fed, which is supportive for the Canadian dollar,” said Bipan Rai, North American head of FX strategy at CIBC Capital Markets. “The Fed is likely to acknowledge the downside risks to the outlook and may hint at a slower pace of rate hikes next year.”

Rai said he expected the loonie to strengthen to 1.33 per U.S. dollar by the end of the year, as the Bank of Canada (BoC) maintains its hawkish stance. The BoC has raised its benchmark rate four times this year to 4.25%, the highest in nearly 15 years, and has said it will study the most recent economic data to gauge whether to hike further.

The Canadian dollar was also supported by domestic data that showed the value of building permits rose by 2.5% in October, beating market expectations of a 0.5% decline.

Canadian government bond yields rose across the curve, tracking the move in U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year was up 3.4 basis points at 2.916%.

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