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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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Devastating Earthquake in Myanmar: Death Toll Surpasses 1,000

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. The quake, centered near Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, has claimed over 1,000 lives, with more than 2,400 injured and many still missing. 

The disaster has caused widespread devastation, toppling buildings, buckling roads, and collapsing bridges. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but the scale of the destruction, coupled with power outages and limited resources, has made the situation dire. Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict has further complicated relief operations, leaving many communities isolated and in desperate need of aid.

Neighboring countries, including India and China, have stepped in to provide humanitarian assistance, sending rescue teams and essential supplies. However, the full extent of the tragedy is still unfolding, and the death toll is expected to rise as rescuers continue to search through the rubble.

This earthquake is one of the deadliest to hit Myanmar in over a century, highlighting the urgent need for international support and disaster preparedness in the region.

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