Skip to main content

Featured

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Stock Market Stumbles Post-Christmas as Investors Eye Jobs Data

                                        

U.S. stock futures fell Thursday as trading resumed after the Christmas holiday, with Wall Street bracing for the release of weekly jobless claims data. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined by 0.3%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 0.4%.

The market's struggle to extend the "Santa Claus rally" saw major indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq nearing record highs after recovering from a Fed-fueled dip last week. Investors are now keenly awaiting the jobless claims report, which has taken on greater significance in the absence of other economic data this week.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment