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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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Fragile Ceasefire Shattered: Israeli Airstrike Claims Nine Lives in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya town has resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, including three local journalists, according to Gaza's health ministry. The strike targeted a vehicle, causing casualties both inside and outside the car. Several individuals were critically injured and rushed to nearby hospitals.

The incident comes amidst ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Hamas leaders and mediators in Cairo. The January ceasefire agreement, which had temporarily halted large-scale fighting, now appears increasingly fragile. Palestinian health officials report that dozens have been killed despite the truce, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Hamas has condemned the airstrike as a "dangerous escalation" and a violation of international laws, urging mediators to pressure Israel into adhering to the ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has yet to comment on the incident.

This tragic event underscores the volatility of the region and the challenges in achieving lasting peace.

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