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Canadian Money Brief: 5 Things to Know Today — May 18, 2026

  A quick scan of the five stories shaping your wallet right now — from the Bank of Canada's next big decision to your mortgage renewal and a brand-new federal agency hunting financial criminals. 1 Bank of Canada Rate Holds at 2.25% — Next Decision Is June 10 The Bank of Canada kept its overnight policy rate steady at 2.25% at its April 29 meeting, citing a rise in energy-driven inflation and ongoing uncertainty from U.S. tariffs. Governing Council held firm while acknowledging a rate hike could become necessary if oil-linked price pressures prove persistent. The next announcement lands on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — mark your calendar. Why it matters: Your variable-rate mortgage, HELOC, and lines of credit are directly tied to this rate. With bank prime rates sitting at 4.45%, every meeting counts. 2 Markets TSX Slips Below 34,000 as Bond Yields Spike The S&P/TSX Composite Index finished last week down close to 2%, sliding under the 34,000 mark. A global bond market selloff...

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Israeli Troops Reach Strategic Hill in Lebanon Amid Escalating Conflict

 

Israeli ground forces have reached their deepest point in Lebanon since the invasion began on October 1, according to Lebanese state media. The troops captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, approximately 5 kilometers from the Israeli border, before pulling back after intense battles with Hezbollah militants.

The National News Agency reported that Israeli forces detonated the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet and several homes in Chamaa before their withdrawal, although these claims have not been independently verified. The Israeli military stated that their operations in southern Lebanon remain limited, localized, and targeted.

This ground push coincided with Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other areas in southern Lebanon, including the port city of Tyre. The strikes targeted sites used by Hezbollah, with residents receiving advance warnings to evacuate.

The escalation comes as Lebanese and Hezbollah officials review a U.S.-drafted proposal aimed at ending the conflict. The proposal, based on U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, calls for a ceasefire and Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Since the conflict’s escalation in late September, over 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, with 80% of the casualties occurring in the past eight weeks. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has urged Iran to persuade Hezbollah to agree to the ceasefire deal.


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