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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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Ceasefire Deal in Gaza: Hostages Freed and Prisoners Released


In a significant development in the Middle East, Hamas has released three hostages as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel. The hostages, Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Siegel, were handed over to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip. This release is part of the fourth round of exchanges under the ceasefire agreement, which also saw Israel releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

The ceasefire, which began six weeks ago, aims to release a total of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 prisoners, as well as facilitate the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza and increase humanitarian aid to the devastated territory. The next phase of negotiations will focus on releasing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely.

The Rafah border crossing with Egypt has also reopened, allowing thousands of Palestinians in need of medical care to access treatment. This development signals that the ceasefire agreement is gaining traction, although the situation remains fragile.

As negotiations continue, the hope is that this ceasefire will pave the way for a lasting peace in the region.



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