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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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Desperation in Gaza: Hunger Crisis Deepens Amid Looting

The Gaza Strip is witnessing a growing hunger crisis, marked by increased looting of food stores and community kitchens. Aid officials report that desperation has surged two months after Israel imposed a blockade on medical, fuel, and food supplies. At least five incidents of looting were recorded recently, including thefts at community kitchens, merchants' stores, and the UN Palestinian refugee agency's main complex.

The looting reflects the dire situation in Gaza, where hunger and hopelessness are spreading rapidly. Community kitchens, which have been lifelines for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, are now at risk of closure due to dwindling supplies and looting. Acute malnutrition among children is worsening, with thousands of cases identified, including severe instances.

The blockade, enforced since March 2, has led to skyrocketing food prices and shortages of essential items. Aid organizations warn that the situation is reaching unprecedented levels, with humanitarian efforts hindered by operational and security constraints.

The crisis underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

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