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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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Egypt Proposes Ceasefire Amid Escalating Gaza Conflict

Egypt has stepped forward with a new truce proposal aimed at restoring peace in Gaza, following a surge in violence that has claimed the lives of at least 65 Palestinians in the past 24 hours. The escalation began after Israel resumed air and ground operations against Hamas, effectively ending a two-month period of relative calm.

The Egyptian plan reportedly includes a phased approach, with Hamas releasing five Israeli hostages each week. In return, Israel would implement the second phase of the ceasefire after the first week. The proposal also outlines a timeline for Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza, backed by U.S. guarantees.

While both Hamas and the U.S. have expressed tentative agreement to the proposal, Israel has yet to respond. The situation remains dire, with nearly 700 Palestinians reported killed since the resumption of hostilities, including many women and children. Humanitarian agencies have raised alarms over the worsening conditions in Gaza, where thousands are displaced and essential supplies are running critically low.

This latest effort by Egypt underscores the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict, as the region faces a mounting humanitarian crisis.

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