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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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Wall Street drifts lower, dragged down by tech and anxiety over China tariffs

U.S. stock futures declined on Wednesday morning, driven by disappointing earnings reports from major technology companies Alphabet Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). As of 7:08 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.1%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.4%, and Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.8%.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw its shares fall by 7.1% in premarket trading after reporting mixed results, with weaker-than-expected cloud revenue growth. The company also announced a substantial $75 billion investment in artificial intelligence initiatives.

AMD's stock declined by nearly 10% following its earnings release, which revealed data center revenue below analysts' expectations. CEO Lisa Su projected a 7% decrease in data center sales for the upcoming quarter.

In contrast, Walt Disney Co. shares rose after reporting better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit, despite a slight decrease in Disney+ subscribers.

Investors are also monitoring ongoing trade tensions, as concerns about prolonged tariffs between the U.S. and China add to market instability. China recently announced tariffs on various U.S. products and initiated an antitrust investigation into Google, with potential similar actions against Apple's App Store.

These developments contribute to a cautious market environment, with investors advised to remain vigilant and consider diversification strategies amid the current volatility.

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