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The Loonie Just Hit an 8-Week High — Here's What a Stronger Dollar Means for You

  August 11, 2026 Three weeks ago, we told you the Canadian dollar had crashed to a 14-month low . This week, it's doing the opposite: the loonie just touched its strongest level since June, and it's not a small bounce. If you shop online, travel south, or hold US stocks in your RRSP or TFSA, this move actually moves your numbers. What actually happened The Canadian dollar strengthened to about 1.393–1.394 per US dollar — roughly 71.7 to 71.8 US cents — its best level in eight weeks, according to Reuters and TradingEconomics data. That's a meaningful move: the loonie has gained close to 2% against the greenback since hitting 1.4248 on July 25, and it's up about 1.6% over the past month alone. THE TURNAROUND, IN THREE NUMBERS July 25 (14-month low) 1.4248 USD/CAD Today (8-week high) ~1.394 USD/CAD Move since July 25 Loonie up ~2.2% Two things are driving it. First, Friday's July jobs report blew past every forecast — the Canadian economy added 75,100 jobs against ...

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Israel Approves New Parcel of West Bank Land for Settlement

 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared 800 hectares in the occupied West Bank as state land. This move aims to facilitate the use of the ground for settlement building. The announcement comes on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite growing international opposition, the Israeli government remains determined to press ahead with settlement construction in the West Bank.

The designation of 1,976 acres of land in the Jordan Valley as state land follows a similar decision regarding 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Maale Adumim area of the West Bank. The latter area is crucial to the Palestinians’ vision of a future independent state.

Last month, the United States stated that Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank was inconsistent with international law, aligning with the global consensus that considers these settlements illegal. Israel, however, disputes this view, citing historical and Biblical ties to the land. Meanwhile, the Palestinians view the expansion of settlements as a deliberate Israeli policy aimed at undermining their aspiration for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this latest move, describing it as “a continuation of the extermination and displacement of our people from their homeland.”

Despite the controversy, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s declaration underscores the government’s commitment to settlement building in the West Bank. The situation remains highly contentious, with implications for regional stability and peace efforts.

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