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Lock In or Stay Variable? What Every Canadian Homeowner Must Decide Before April 29

   Bank of Canada headquarters, Ottawa. Overnight rate held at 2.25% since October 2025. Next decision: April 29, 2026.  The Bank of Canada has held its rate at 2.25% for three straight decisions — but with inflation creeping back up, a Middle East conflict pushing oil prices, and over one million mortgage renewals on the horizon, the stakes of getting this wrong have never been higher. The Canadian Money Brief April 25, 2026 6 min read THE CANADIAN MONEY BRIEF BANK OF CANADA 2.25% 2.25% POLICY RATE HELD SINCE OCT. 2025 · THIRD CONSECUTIVE HOLD NEXT DECISION: APR. 29, 2026 If your mortgage is coming up for renewal in the next six to eighteen months, the question keeping you up at night is probably this: do I lock in a fixed rate now — or do I ride out a variable rate and hope the Bank of Canada does something helpful? It's the right question to be asking. And right now, the answer is more complicated — and more consequential — than it has been in years. The Bank of Canada...

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Wall Street Rises to Add to Last Week’s Gains

 

World shares tracked Wall Street’s advance today, fueled by cooler-than-expected U.S. employment data. Last week, Wall Street had its best day in more than two months, and today’s gains further contributed to the positive momentum.

Key Highlights:

  1. U.S. Markets:

    • The S&P 500 climbed 1% today, adding to last week’s gains.
    • The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%.
    • The Nasdaq composite surged 1.2%.
    • Treasury yields remained steady in the bond market.
  2. Global Markets:

    • European markets started the day with gains. Germany’s DAX edged 0.1% higher, and the CAC 40 in Paris also saw modest gains.
    • Asian markets performed well, with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong closing 0.4% higher and the Shanghai Composite index surging 1.2% after a weeklong holiday.
    • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7%, and Taiwan’s Taiex gained 1%.
    • Markets in Tokyo and South Korea were closed for holidays.
  3. U.S. Employment Data:

    • The latest private sector survey showed that China’s services sector grew at a slower pace in April due to rising costs, although new orders rose and business sentiment improved.
    • The U.S. added 175,000 jobs last month, down sharply from March’s blockbuster increase of 315,000. Average hourly earnings also rose less than expected.
    • The modest increase in hiring suggests that the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes may be impacting the economy, potentially leading to a shift in interest rate policy.
  4. Tech Stocks:

    • Friday’s market rally was widespread, with technology stocks leading the gains.
    • Apple jumped 6% after announcing a mammoth $110 billion stock buyback, despite reporting its steepest quarterly decline in iPhone sales since the pandemic began.

In summary, Wall Street’s positive performance today reflects optimism fueled by economic data and strong tech sector gains. Investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s next moves as they consider potential interest rate adjustments.

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