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5 Things to Know Today: BoC Hike Odds, Fixed Rates, Tariff Swap, $100 Oil & Budget Countdown (Oct. 25)

  Canadian Money Brief • Sunday, October 25, 2026 A big week for your wallet starts Wednesday. Here are the five things Canadians should know before it begins. 1 The Bank of Canada decides Wednesday, and markets lean toward a hike The Bank of Canada announces its rate decision at 9:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28, alongside a new Monetary Policy Report. Prediction markets price roughly a 79% chance of a quarter-point hike to 2.50%, up sharply after Governor Tiff Macklem’s hawkish comments at the IMF meetings, though analysts remain split and some expect a “hawkish hold.” The U.S. Fed also decides that day. What it means for you: Variable-rate mortgage and HELOC holders feel it first. A 0.25-point hike works out to roughly $70 more per month on a $500,000 variable mortgage (25-year amortization), and prime would move from 4.45% to 4.70%. A hold means little change until the next decision on Dec. 9. 2 Fixed mortgage rates have already moved without the Bank Fixed rates follow bond ...

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Trump’s Gaza Deal: A Fragile First Step Toward Peace

 

According to the agreement Israeli troops will have to withdraw to the so-called yellow line in Gaza


After two years of devastating conflict in Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced what he calls a “historic” peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. The deal, unveiled this week, marks the first phase of a broader 20‑point framework designed to halt the bloodshed and potentially reshape the region’s political future.

At its core, the agreement includes:

  • Ceasefire & Troop Withdrawal: Israel will begin a partial withdrawal from Gaza, pulling back to an agreed “yellow line.”
  • Hostage & Prisoner Exchange: Hamas has pledged to release all remaining hostages, while Israel is set to free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds serving life sentences.
  • Humanitarian Aid: The deal promises a significant increase in aid deliveries, with hundreds of trucks expected to enter Gaza daily.
  • Future Governance: While Hamas has agreed to the ceasefire, questions remain over who will govern Gaza once the war ends. Trump’s plan envisions a reformed Palestinian Authority or a technocratic administration, but details are still vague.

The announcement sparked celebrations in parts of Gaza and Israel, with families of hostages expressing relief. Yet skepticism lingers. Previous ceasefires have collapsed, and the long‑term issues—such as Hamas’s role, Palestinian statehood, and Gaza’s reconstruction—remain unresolved.

For Trump, the deal represents his most significant foreign policy breakthrough of his current presidency, with supporters touting it as Nobel Peace Prize‑worthy. Critics, however, warn that without a clear roadmap for Gaza’s future, this “first step” could falter like many before it.

In short, Trump’s Gaza deal is a moment of cautious hope: a pause in the violence, a chance for humanitarian relief, and perhaps the opening chapter of a still‑uncertain peace.


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