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BoC Set to Hike Into a Weak Economy: What It Means for You

  Canadian Money Brief • Feature Monday, October 26, 2026 • Written ahead of the 9:45 a.m. ET decision on Wednesday, Oct. 28 The Bank of Canada is about to do something that looks backwards. Jobs are disappearing, the housing market is sluggish, and yet money markets and most economists expect the central bank to raise its key rate on Wednesday. If it happens, your budget gets squeezed from two directions at once: higher borrowing costs and a shakier job market. The short version • Expected move: +0.25 point to 2.50% on Oct. 28, up from 2.25% • Reuters poll: 56% of economists (19 of 34) call for a hike, and a majority see one more by end of March • Why now: energy-driven inflation (3.1% in September) and a bank worried it spreads • The catch: 68,300 jobs lost in September , unemployment at 6.5% Why would the bank hike when the economy is wobbling? Reuters reports the Bank of Canada is expected to raise its rate as a pre-emptive strike: the goal is to stop an oil-driven jump in p...

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Red Sea Shipping Crisis Worsens After US and UK Strike Yemen

 

The Red Sea, a vital waterway for global trade, has become a hotspot of conflict and insecurity after the US and UK launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been attacking commercial vessels with missiles and drones.

The airstrikes, which began on Thursday, were a response to the 27th Houthi attack on shipping since November, according to the US military. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been targeting ships in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow passage that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The escalation of violence has disrupted the flow of oil, gas, grains, and manufactured goods through the region, which accounts for about 12% of global seaborne trade. Many shipping companies have suspended or diverted their operations, opting for the longer and more costly route around Africa. Some insurers have also raised their premiums or restricted their coverage for vessels passing through the area.

The shipping crisis has added to the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, where a civil war has been raging since 2015. The UN estimates that more than 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and that millions are on the brink of famine. The airstrikes have also raised fears of a wider regional conflict, as Iran and its allies clash with the US and its allies over various issues, including the nuclear deal and Israel’s war in Gaza.

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