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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Hike Bets, TSX Slide, Oil Near $100 (Oct. 23)

  Canadian Money Brief • Friday, October 23, 2026 The Bank of Canada decision is five days away, the TSX gave back most of Wednesday's gains, and oil is flirting with US$100 again. Here are the five things Canadian wallets need to know today. 1. Markets Lean Toward a Bank of Canada Hike on Oct. 28 A decision that looked like a ninth straight hold is now a genuine coin flip with a hawkish tilt. After Governor Tiff Macklem warned that there is "no resolution in sight" for the Middle East conflict, BMO and Desjardins flipped to a hike call, Scotiabank firmed up its call and Goldman Sachs joined them, all looking for a quarter-point move to 2.50%. Overnight swaps priced about an 87% chance of a hike earlier this week, though other economists still argue for a hold, pointing to September's 68,000 job losses and a 6.5% unemployment rate. What it means for you: A quarter-point hike adds roughly $21 a month in interest for every $100,000 of variable-rate borrowing (HELOCs an...
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Sanae Takaichi Poised to Make History as Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

                                      Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Sanae Takaichi.

Japan is on the verge of a historic political shift after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister.

Takaichi, 64, a former Economic Security Minister and longtime conservative figure within the LDP, defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff vote on Saturday. Her victory comes as the party seeks to recover from recent electoral setbacks and restore public trust following corruption scandals and rising public discontent over inflation.

Although parliament must still formally confirm her appointment in mid-October, the LDP’s dominance in the lower house makes her ascension to the premiership all but certain. Takaichi will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned after the party’s poor election performance.

Known for her hawkish foreign policy views and close alignment with the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has pledged to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities, boost economic growth, and maintain traditional social policies. Her leadership, however, is expected to spark debate both domestically and abroad, particularly regarding gender equality and Japan’s relations with China and South Korea.

If confirmed, Takaichi will break a political glass ceiling in a country that ranks among the lowest in the G7 for gender equality, marking a symbolic milestone in Japan’s male-dominated political landscape.


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