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Bond Yields Are Nearing 5%: What It Means for Your Mortgage and HELOC

  Published September 11, 2026 Something is happening in the bond market this week that matters more to your wallet than the daily swings in the TSX. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note closed in on 5% on Friday — 4.95% , its highest level since 2023 and approaching territory not seen since 2007 — after climbing 18 basis points in a single week. Canadian bond yields have followed the same path: the 10-year Government of Canada bond hit its highest level in over two years earlier this month, and the 5-year bond — the one that actually sets your fixed mortgage rate — has drifted up to roughly 3.41%, about a quarter-point higher than it was a month ago. If you're renewing a mortgage, shopping for a HELOC, or just trying to figure out whether now is the moment to lock in, here's what's actually going on and what it means for your payments. Why bond yields, not the Bank of Canada, are driving fixed rates right now It's a common mix-up: people watch the Bank of Canada...

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Trump’s Last-Minute Demands Throw Government Funding Plan into Disarray


In a dramatic turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has rejected a bipartisan plan aimed at preventing a government shutdown just days before the deadline. This unexpected move has left House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans scrambling to renegotiate the terms to keep the government operational.

Trump's sudden demands have sent Congress into chaos as lawmakers rush to conclude their work and head home for the holidays. The president-elect's proposal includes a controversial provision to raise the nation’s debt limit, a measure often opposed by his own party.

Democrats have criticized the Republican opposition to the stopgap measure, which was intended to keep federal offices running and provide significant disaster aid. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of being instructed to shut down the government, thereby harming working-class Americans.

The bill, already on shaky ground, faced further rejection from hard-right conservatives and Trump’s ally, Elon Musk. Many lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the increased spending and other provisions in the 1,500-page bill.

As the deadline looms, the situation underscores the challenges Republicans will face next year as they take control of the House, Senate, and White House. It also highlights the significant influence Trump holds over the party’s legislative agenda.

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