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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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Trade War Escalates: China Strikes Back at U.S. Tariffs

China has retaliated against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to increase tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, raising its own tariffs on American imports to 125%. This tit-for-tat escalation has intensified the trade war between the world's two largest economies, sending shockwaves through global markets.

The turmoil has left foreign leaders grappling with the disruption to international trade and supply chains. Stocks have plummeted, the dollar has weakened, and U.S. government bonds have faced a sell-off. Gold, often seen as a safe haven during economic uncertainty, has reached record highs.

While Trump expressed hope for a deal with China, the uncertainty has fueled fears of a global recession. China's Finance Ministry has condemned the U.S. tariffs as "unilateral bullying and coercion," signaling that Beijing is prepared to fight to the end.

The escalating trade conflict underscores the fragility of the global economy and the challenges of navigating such high-stakes negotiations. What do you think about this unfolding drama?

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