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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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TSX Futures Plunge Amid Global Market Sell-Off

 

Futures for Canada’s main stock index, the S&P/TSX, fell sharply on Friday as investors braced for crucial U.S. payrolls data amidst a global market downturn. The September futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 1.0% early in the morning.

The decline follows weaker-than-expected factory data from the U.S. on Thursday, which heightened fears of an economic slowdown and negatively impacted investor sentiment worldwide. Additionally, disappointing earnings reports from major tech companies like Intel and Amazon.com contributed to a sell-off in tech shares across markets.

Despite the overall downturn, an uptick in commodity prices helped limit the declines. Oil prices saw a slight increase, and gold was poised for its biggest weekly jump in four months.

Investors are keenly awaiting the U.S. non-farm payrolls data, expected to provide further insights into the state of the American economy. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index had ended 1.7% lower on Thursday, marking its biggest daily decline since February.

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