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The Fed Decides Wednesday — Here's What It Means for Your Mortgage, the Loonie, and Your RRSP

  Monday, July 27, 2026 The U.S. Federal Reserve hands down its rate decision at 2 p.m. ET on July 29. For most Canadians it will feel like background noise. It isn't — here's the plain-language version of why it touches your mortgage, your cross-border spending, and whatever's sitting in your RRSP. The short version: Markets are pricing roughly a two-in-three chance the Fed holds its rate at 3.50%–3.75% on Wednesday. That's not the story. The story is that this is one of the least certain "sure thing" holds in years — and Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET could matter more than the decision itself. Why this meeting is different The Fed has held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50%–3.75% through every meeting so far in 2026. On paper, Wednesday should be more of the same. Under the hood, it's messier. Persistent inflation, running well above the Fed's 2% target for a fifth straight year, has kept a rate hike on the table. The oil-...
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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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