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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 Congo Gamble: Business Diplomacy Meets Political Turbulence


Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitious “peace-for-business” initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing mounting challenges as political instability, local skepticism, and logistical hurdles stall progress. The campaign, which aimed to leverage private investment—particularly in Congo’s rich mineral sector—as a pathway to peace, has encountered resistance from both Congolese officials and wary international investors.

Trump’s strategy centered on economic development as a stabilizing force, with allies like financier Gentry Beach eyeing high-stakes deals such as the $500 million Rubaya coltan mine project. The U.S. hoped this investment-led diplomacy would counter China’s mineral dominance and foster regional peace, including a ceasefire between Congo and Rwanda.

However, the reality on the ground has proven more complex. Local communities remain cautious, citing past exploitation by foreign firms. Security concerns, corruption, and weak governance have prompted several companies to withdraw. Meanwhile, Trump’s polarizing legacy complicates diplomatic efforts, with some regional leaders reluctant to publicly support the initiative.

A separate U.S. mission tied to Trump’s team—offering prisoner releases in exchange for mineral deals—ended abruptly after tensions with Congolese officials, further highlighting the fragility of these unconventional negotiations.

Despite initial optimism, Trump’s peace-through-profit model is struggling to gain traction in a region where sustainable peace demands more than just investment—it requires trust, transparency, and long-term political solutions.

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