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The Rate Cuts Are Over — Is a Hike Coming?

  July 23, 2026 Oil shocks, sticky inflation and a technical recession are pulling the Bank of Canada in opposite directions at once. For most of the past two years, the only question about the Bank of Canada was how far and how fast it would cut. The overnight rate fell from 5.00% to 2.25% between June 2024 and October 2025, one of the sharpest easing cycles in the Bank's history, and it has held there through six consecutive decisions since. That story is now over. The question on the table for the rest of 2026 isn't whether the Bank cuts again — it's whether the next move is actually a hike. Two conflicting signals, one Bank The case for staying put — or even cutting — comes from the growth side of the ledger. Statistics Canada data showed the economy contracted in both the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, meeting the informal definition of a technical recession. That was enough to have some economists warning the Bank had no room to raise rates at a...
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Hamas Rejects Israel’s Ceasefire Response, Sticks to Main Demands



The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has firmly rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal. In a statement issued on Saturday, Hamas conveyed its response to the proposal to mediators in Egypt and Qatar. The group remains steadfast in its core demands, which include:
  1. Permanent Ceasefire: Hamas insists on a lasting cessation of hostilities.
  2. Israeli Troop Withdrawal: The complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
  3. Return of Displaced Palestinians: Ensuring the safe return of displaced Palestinians to their original areas and places of residence.
  4. Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction: Intensifying the entry of relief and aid and commencing the much-needed reconstruction efforts.

Hamas’s readiness to engage in a prisoners-for-hostages swap deal with Israel, involving the release of 133 hostages, underscores the gravity of the situation. However, Israel has already dismissed some of these demands as delusional.

As tensions persist, the region remains on edge, awaiting further developments in this protracted conflict. The stakes are high, and the delicate balance between peace and continued strife hangs in the balance.

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