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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...
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Market Turmoil: U.S. Stocks Plunge Amid Trump Tariff Fears

 

U.S. stocks experienced a significant decline on Friday as concerns over President Donald Trump's tariff policies spread among businesses and consumers. The S&P 500 fell by 1.7%, marking its worst day in two months, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 748 points, or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 2.2%.

The losses accelerated throughout the day following several weaker-than-expected economic reports. One report suggested that U.S. business activity is close to stalling, with growth slowing to a 17-month low. The preliminary report from S&P Global indicated that activity unexpectedly shrank for U.S. services businesses, with many in the survey reporting slumping optimism due to concerns about Washington.

Additionally, a separate report revealed that U.S. consumers are preparing for higher inflation, partly due to potential tariffs that could raise prices for various imports. The University of Michigan's survey showed that consumers broadly expect prices to be 4.3% higher 12 months from now, a significant jump from their forecast of 3.3% inflation last month.

The stock market's decline was widespread, with stocks of the smallest companies, whose profits are more closely tied to the strength of the U.S. economy, falling more than the rest of the market. The Russell 2000 index of small stocks dropped by 2.9%. Within the S&P 500 index, three out of every four stocks fell, including Big Tech stocks, airlines, and metals companies.

Despite the recent downturn, the U.S. stock market remains up for the year so far and is not far from its all-time high set earlier this week. However, Friday's reports have raised concerns about the resilience of the economy, and the losses on Wall Street were widespread.


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