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Big Six Banks Raise Fixed Mortgage Rates: What Your Renewal Costs Now

  Canadian Money Brief • Mortgages Updated Saturday, October 17, 2026 If your mortgage term ends this winter, the rate you saw advertised in August is probably gone. All six of Canada’s big banks have raised fixed rates since early September, and the Bank of Canada hasn’t touched its policy rate in almost a year. That disconnect catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Your fixed mortgage rate doesn’t follow the Bank of Canada. It follows the bond market. And bond yields have been climbing on oil-driven inflation worries, which means the people feeling it first right now are the ones opening a renewal letter. The numbers at a glance Up to 0.50 pt in fixed-rate increases at the big banks in about five weeks • BoC policy rate still 2.25% • Big bank prime still 4.45% • About $110 a month more on a $400,000 balance from a half-point jump How far have the big banks moved? Depending on the term, some big bank fixed rates are up by as much as half a percentage point in roughly five week...

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Stock Market Update: S&P 500 Targets 5,000 Amid Earnings Momentum

 

Wall Street is poised to wrap up another week on a positive note, with the S&P 500 aiming for a significant milestone: 5,000 points. If achieved, this would mark the first time the index has closed at such heights. Let’s dive into the key highlights driving the market:

Corporate earnings have been the driving force behind this week’s gains. Notable winners include:

  1. Cloudfare: The cloud services provider surged more than 24% after beating Wall Street’s sales and profit forecasts. Its robust outlook for 2024 propelled the stock to new heights.

  2. Expedia: Despite beating sales and profit targets, the online travel booking company faced a premarket decline of 15.6%. The announcement of CEO Peter Kern’s replacement added to the volatility.

  3. Take-Two Interactive: The publisher of popular video games like “Grand Theft Auto” stumbled, missing sales and profit targets. The company also revised its outlook downward.

Global Market Snapshot

  • Asia: Trading was mixed in Asia due to the Lunar New Year holiday. Tokyo’s market ended slightly higher, touching a 34-year high earlier in the day. The Bank of Japan’s commitment to its monetary policy supported investor sentiment.

  • Europe: Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 remained flat at midday, while Britain’s FTSE 100 ticked up 0.1%.

  • China: Markets in mainland China were closed, and Hong Kong had a half-day session, with the Hang Seng shedding 0.8%. China’s securities regulator took measures to stabilize financial markets.

  • Australia: The S&P/ASX 200 added nearly 0.1%.

Commodities and Currency

  • Crude Oil: Benchmark U.S. crude lost 16 cents to $76.06 a barrel, while Brent crude declined 25 cents to $81.38 a barrel.

  • Currency: The U.S. dollar weakened against the Japanese yen (149.17 JPY) and the euro (1.0789 EUR).

  • Bitcoin: The cryptocurrency surged 4.6%, reaching $47,000 for the first time in nearly two years.

In summary, Wall Street’s upward trajectory continues, fueled by strong earnings reports. As investors keep an eye on the S&P 500’s march toward 5,000, the market remains dynamic and full of opportunities.


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