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The Fed Decides Wednesday — Here's What It Means for Your Mortgage, the Loonie, and Your RRSP

  Monday, July 27, 2026 The U.S. Federal Reserve hands down its rate decision at 2 p.m. ET on July 29. For most Canadians it will feel like background noise. It isn't — here's the plain-language version of why it touches your mortgage, your cross-border spending, and whatever's sitting in your RRSP. The short version: Markets are pricing roughly a two-in-three chance the Fed holds its rate at 3.50%–3.75% on Wednesday. That's not the story. The story is that this is one of the least certain "sure thing" holds in years — and Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET could matter more than the decision itself. Why this meeting is different The Fed has held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50%–3.75% through every meeting so far in 2026. On paper, Wednesday should be more of the same. Under the hood, it's messier. Persistent inflation, running well above the Fed's 2% target for a fifth straight year, has kept a rate hike on the table. The oil-...

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Trump's Semiconductor Tariff Plans Leave Tech Industry on Edge


In a move that has sent ripples through the tech industry, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to introduce tariffs on imported semiconductors. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump hinted at flexibility for certain companies but emphasized the need to bolster domestic production of chips and electronics. This announcement follows a series of tariff exemptions for consumer electronics, which had briefly raised hopes within the tech sector.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that while some products like smartphones and laptops are temporarily exempt, they will likely face separate tariffs in the coming months. This back-and-forth has created significant uncertainty, with industry leaders expressing concerns over potential disruptions to global supply chains and increased costs for consumers.

The semiconductor tariffs are part of a broader strategy to reshape the electronics supply chain and encourage domestic manufacturing. However, the tech industry remains wary, as these measures could lead to retaliatory actions from trade partners and further volatility in the market. 

The coming weeks will reveal the full scope of these tariffs and their impact on the global tech landscape.

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