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The Fed Just Hiked Rates. Here's What It Means for Your Canadian Mortgage.

  The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate 25 basis points yesterday — the first hike in three years. The Bank of Canada hasn't moved. That gap is now the biggest story in Canadian personal finance. MoneySavings.ca  |  September 17, 2026  |  Canadian Money Brief Yesterday afternoon, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 12-0 to raise the U.S. federal funds rate by a quarter point, pushing it to a target range of 3.75%–4.00%. It's the Fed's first rate hike since July 2023, and Chair Kevin Warsh made clear it almost certainly won't be the last. The Bank of Canada, by contrast, has held its overnight rate at 2.25% through seven straight meetings. It doesn't decide again until October 28. For Canadians with a mortgage, a renewal coming up, or a home equity line of credit, this matters more than it might look at first glance. 3.75–4.00% New U.S. Fed Rate 2.25% Bank of Canada Rate 1.625% Rate Gap (vs. 1.375% yesterday) ~71.5¢ Loonie (post-hike low) What th...

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AI Surge Fuels Wall Street Optimism Amidst Fed Watch

 

Wall Street ended on a high note as investors’ enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) outweighed concerns over the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. The technology sector, led by giants like Alphabet and Tesla, saw a significant rebound, particularly with the Nasdaq index climbing 0.82%. Alphabet’s shares soared following reports of Apple potentially integrating Google’s Gemini AI engine into the iPhone, marking a substantial boost for the communication services sector.

Investors are keenly awaiting the Federal Reserve’s policy update, with mixed feelings about the potential outcomes. While the AI sector’s prospects have injected optimism, there’s a palpable tension regarding the Fed’s next move. The Dow Jones rose modestly by 0.20%, and the S&P 500 gained 0.63%, reflecting a cautious yet hopeful market stance.

In contrast, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) experienced a slight dip, diverging from its American counterparts. This minor setback, however, has not dampened the overall market sentiment, which remains buoyed by the AI-driven tech rally. As the week progresses, all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve’s decision, which is expected to bring clarity to investors’ lingering questions about the future of monetary policy.

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