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Big Six Banks Raise Fixed Mortgage Rates: What Your Renewal Costs Now

  Canadian Money Brief • Mortgages Updated Saturday, October 17, 2026 If your mortgage term ends this winter, the rate you saw advertised in August is probably gone. All six of Canada’s big banks have raised fixed rates since early September, and the Bank of Canada hasn’t touched its policy rate in almost a year. That disconnect catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Your fixed mortgage rate doesn’t follow the Bank of Canada. It follows the bond market. And bond yields have been climbing on oil-driven inflation worries, which means the people feeling it first right now are the ones opening a renewal letter. The numbers at a glance Up to 0.50 pt in fixed-rate increases at the big banks in about five weeks • BoC policy rate still 2.25% • Big bank prime still 4.45% • About $110 a month more on a $400,000 balance from a half-point jump How far have the big banks moved? Depending on the term, some big bank fixed rates are up by as much as half a percentage point in roughly five week...

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Turkey Blocks Instagram Access Over Hamas Chief Post Removal

 

In a significant move, Turkey’s communications authority has blocked access to Instagram, reportedly in response to the platform’s removal of posts related to Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) announced the block on Friday, though no official reason was provided.

According to local media, the block came after Instagram removed posts by Turkish users expressing condolences for Haniyeh, who was recently killed. This action follows criticism from Fahrettin Altun, the presidential communications director, who condemned Instagram for censoring messages of sympathy for Haniyeh.

Turkey, which does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, has a history of censoring social media platforms. The country is observing a day of mourning for Haniyeh, with flags flown at half-staff. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between Turkey and social media companies over content regulation and freedom of expression.


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