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Why Interest Rates Matter for Canadians

Interest rates are the single most powerful lever in Canada's economy.  When the Bank of Canada adjusts its policy rate, the effects reach every household—from the cost of carrying a mortgage to the return on a savings account. With rates currently at 2.25% and significant uncertainty ahead, understanding how rates work has never been more important for your finances. What Is the Bank of Canada's Policy Rate? The Bank of Canada sets the overnight policy rate—the interest rate at which major banks lend money to each other. This rate serves as a benchmark that influences borrowing and lending costs across the entire economy. When the Bank raises or lowers this rate, commercial banks adjust their prime rates accordingly, which directly affects the rates you pay on mortgages, lines of credit, and other loans. The Bank's primary goal is to keep inflation near its 2% target. When inflation runs too hot, the Bank raises rates to cool spending. When the economy slows, it cuts rates...
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S&P/TSX Composite Slips as U.S. Markets Surge

 

In a mixed start to the week, Canada’s main stock index, the S&P/TSX composite, dipped slightly, shedding 51.22 points to close at 21,587.88. Meanwhile, U.S. markets continued their ascent, with the Dow Jones industrial average gaining 188.94 points, reaching 38,778.10. The S&P 500 index also rose by 41.63 points to 5,473.23, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 168.14 points to 17,857.02.

Investors on both sides of the border are adjusting to recent interest rate decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada. While the TSX experienced some losses, optimism remains, buoyed by positive housing starts data in Montreal and Toronto.

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