Gina Burgio

Three times this month Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canada's second-largest bank, has been first to lower its prime rate following decisions by the Bank of Canada (the central bank) to lower its overnight rate. Toronto-Dominion's biggest rivals followed suit the same day.

For example, on Oct.8, TD Bank was the first to announce a cut that day with a statement at 1 p.m., followed by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) 43 minutes later. Royal Bank of Canada, the country's largest bank, was next at 2:32 p.m., followed by Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of Montreal.

Two days later, the banks reduced their rates again following the federal government agreement to buy as much as C$25 billion of bank mortgages. TD was first, announcing a 15 basis-point cut at 12:31 p.m., followed by Scotiabank at 1:23 p.m.

The Canadian Banks broke with tradition on Oct. 8, lowering their prime rate by 0.25%, short of the Bank of Canada's 0.50% cut.

TD Bank led again on Oct. 21. following a 9 a.m. Bank of Canada announcement of a 25 basis-point cut. TD cut its prime rate 35 basis points at 4:15 p.m. Canada's five other largest banks followed over the next 48 minutes.

What does all this mean for the consumer? At the end of the day, none of these banks gain much advantage by cutting first because new rates don't go into effect until the next day.

Canada's six largest banks are now offering the same prime rate of 4 percent.

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Gina Burgio, Mortgage Agent
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc.
Toll Free: 1-877-345-6265
Fax: 1-877-345-6256
Email: gina@ginaburgio.com
www.ginaburgio.com

Each VERICO Broker is an independent owner operator.

Iceland raised interest rates to a record 18 per cent from 12 per cent yesterday as a condition of a proposed $2bn loan from the International Monetary Fund to help rescue the stricken country.

Iceland applied for the emergency loan after its banking system collapsed and is seeking another $4billion from other central banks.

Following the collapse of their banking system, some economists forecast that Iceland's economy unemployment to rise around 8 percent and inflation to hit 20 percent or more.

Despite the ongoing crisis in the US and Canada, things could be worst.... when you look at what's going on in Iceland!

Gina Burgio, Mortgage Agent
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc.
Toll Free: 1-877-345-6265
Fax: 1-877-345-6256
Email: gina@ginaburgio.com
www.ginaburgio.com

Each VERICO Broker is an independent owner operator.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose 5.5 percent last month, the biggest gain since July 2003.

The National Association of Realtors on Friday said that sales of existing home rose to a 5.18 million-unit annual rate from the 4.91 million-unit pace set in August.

The median national home price declined 9 percent from a year ago to $191,600, the lowest level since April 2004.

Sales jumped 16.8 percent in the West, while rising 4.4 percent in the Midwest and 2.2 percent in the South. In the Northeast, sales fell 1.2 percent.

Sales of single-family homes, which represent the lion's share of the market, rose 6.2 percent. Sales of condominiums held steady.

Gina Burgio, Mortgage Agent
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc.
Toll Free: 1-877-345-6265
Fax: 1-877-345-6256
Email: gina@ginaburgio.com
www.ginaburgio.com

Each VERICO Broker is an independent owner operator.

Our Mortgage Rates.

Gina Burgio, Mortgage Agent
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc.
Toll Free: 1-877-345-6265
Fax: 1-877-345-6256
Email: gina@ginaburgio.com
www.ginaburgio.com

Each VERICO Broker is an independent owner operator.

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Gina Burgio, Mortgage Agent
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc.
Toll Free: 1-877-345-6265
Fax: 1-877-345-6256
Email: gina@ginaburgio.com
www.ginaburgio.com

Each VERICO Broker is an independent owner operator.