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Bond Yields Are Nearing 5%: What It Means for Your Mortgage and HELOC

  Published September 11, 2026 Something is happening in the bond market this week that matters more to your wallet than the daily swings in the TSX. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note closed in on 5% on Friday — 4.95% , its highest level since 2023 and approaching territory not seen since 2007 — after climbing 18 basis points in a single week. Canadian bond yields have followed the same path: the 10-year Government of Canada bond hit its highest level in over two years earlier this month, and the 5-year bond — the one that actually sets your fixed mortgage rate — has drifted up to roughly 3.41%, about a quarter-point higher than it was a month ago. If you're renewing a mortgage, shopping for a HELOC, or just trying to figure out whether now is the moment to lock in, here's what's actually going on and what it means for your payments. Why bond yields, not the Bank of Canada, are driving fixed rates right now It's a common mix-up: people watch the Bank of Canada...

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Greek Workers Unite in Nationwide Strike for Wage Reform

On April 9, 2025, Greece witnessed a nationwide strike that brought the country to a standstill. Public and private sector workers staged a 24-hour walkout, demanding higher wages and the reinstatement of collective bargaining rights. The strike disrupted essential services, grounding flights, halting trains, and tying up ferries at ports. Public transport in Athens operated only part-time, while thousands of protesters gathered in the capital and other cities to voice their demands.

The strike comes amid rising living costs, with food, housing, and utilities becoming increasingly unaffordable for many households. Despite a cumulative 35% increase in the minimum wage to €880, workers argue that their purchasing power remains insufficient. Labour unions are calling for immediate pay raises and the restoration of annual bonuses that were scrapped during Greece's financial crisis.

This collective action highlights the growing frustration among workers as they struggle to make ends meet in the face of economic challenges. The government has promised further wage increases but cites fiscal constraints as a barrier to meeting all demands.


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