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Why Interest Rates Matter for Canadians

Interest rates are the single most powerful lever in Canada's economy.  When the Bank of Canada adjusts its policy rate, the effects reach every household—from the cost of carrying a mortgage to the return on a savings account. With rates currently at 2.25% and significant uncertainty ahead, understanding how rates work has never been more important for your finances. What Is the Bank of Canada's Policy Rate? The Bank of Canada sets the overnight policy rate—the interest rate at which major banks lend money to each other. This rate serves as a benchmark that influences borrowing and lending costs across the entire economy. When the Bank raises or lowers this rate, commercial banks adjust their prime rates accordingly, which directly affects the rates you pay on mortgages, lines of credit, and other loans. The Bank's primary goal is to keep inflation near its 2% target. When inflation runs too hot, the Bank raises rates to cool spending. When the economy slows, it cuts rates...
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UK Bonds Experience Worst Start to a Year on Record

 


UK bonds have experienced the worst start to a year on record, following an unexpected surge in inflation. 

The Bloomberg Sterling Aggregate Bond Index is down over 3% this month, more than any other sovereign market. The UK isn’t the only place where investors are rethinking their aggressive bets on interest-rate reductions. Traders in the US and Europe have also moderated their expectations. 

The turbulence in the bond market has brought home how vulnerable markets are. The Bank of England is now caught between a rock and a hard place, as the clear path the market was painting for a steady reduction in interest rates this year may have to be re-visited .


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