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Big Bank Earnings Wrap: What RBC and CIBC Reveal About Your Mortgage

  Royal Bank and CIBC reported record or near-record profits before the market opened Thursday, closing out a jam-packed bank earnings week that also included BMO, Scotiabank and National Bank. Beyond the headline numbers, though, the details tucked into these reports say a lot about where mortgage rates, lending standards and household credit stress are actually heading — and it's a more reassuring picture than a lot of the tariff-and-tension headlines this month might suggest. RBC: Record Profit, Credit Quality Barely Budged Royal Bank of Canada posted net income of $6.0 billion for the quarter ended July 31, up 11% from a year earlier and a record for the bank. Diluted earnings per share came in at $4.23, up 13% year-over-year, while return on equity climbed to 17.9%. The number worth watching for anyone with a mortgage isn't the profit line — it's the provision for credit losses (PCL), the money banks set aside for loans that might go bad. RBC's total PCL was $1.0 b...

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Suspected Houthi Rebel Missile Sets Cargo Ship Ablaze in Gulf of Aden

 

On Thursday, a suspected missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels ignited a ship in the Gulf of Aden, while simultaneously, Israel intercepted what appeared to be another Houthi attack near the port city of Eilat.

In the Gulf of Aden, two missiles were fired, leaving an unnamed ship ablaze. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the incident but provided no further details about the vessel. However, ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press identified the burning vessel as the Palau-flagged cargo ship Islander. This ship had been en route from Thailand to Egypt and had previously sent out messages indicating “SYRIAN CREW ON BOARD” in an attempt to avoid being targeted by the Houthis.

Meanwhile, sirens blared over Eilat early Thursday morning, followed by videos posted online showing what appeared to be an interception in the sky. The Israeli military later clarified that the interception was carried out by its Arrow missile defense system. Although the origin of the fire remains undisclosed, the Arrow system is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles while they are still in space.

These attacks occur amidst escalating tensions between the Houthi rebels and Israel. The Houthis have intensified their assaults in response to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Eilat, situated on the Red Sea, is a crucial port city for Israel. In October, the Houthis first claimed a missile-and-drone barrage targeting Eilat, but these attacks have caused no damage in the city.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, jeopardizing trade routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. These vessels often have tenuous or unclear links to Israel, making them vulnerable to Houthi attacks. Notably, some of these ships have carried cargo bound for Iran, the Houthis’ primary supporter.

While the Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for either attack, they typically acknowledge their actions hours after conducting them. As the situation unfolds, the international community closely monitors the volatile region, where geopolitical tensions continue to simmer.


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