"HSBC Canada offered market-leading rates," the Competition Bureau wrote today, with respect to RBC's bid for the company. Observe the word "offered" — in the past tense because, barring a miracle deal blocker from the Minister of Finance, Canadians may soon never see HSBC's leading rates again. The Competition Bureau has

If you're a mortgage advisor seasoned enough to recall the "good old days," you'll surely remember the arduous process of finding suitable lenders for clients. It was an era defined by quaintly archaic tasks, like: * manually scanning endless product guides * pouring through neverending rate sheets * engaging in delightful games of

Let's start with some good news. After weeks of nail-biting amid surging rates, Canadian bond yields have graciously returned to their August starting point, shedding 26 basis points from last week's 16-year high. That's some welcome relief, however temporary it may be.

Some lenders have an unconventional idea of partnership. They boldly label brokers as their "partners" but treat them with the same respect one might reserve for a telemarketer who calls during dinner. If you're a lender, one strange way to show broker partners you 'care' is to withhold your best