By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, Jan. 12, 2018 (CNS) – The following is a glance at the
news moving markets in Canada and globally.
The Royal Bank of Canada raised its posted five-year fixed
mortgage rate on Thursday. It was the first of Canada’s Big Five
banks to make the move ahead of the Bank of Canada’s interest
rate decision next week. RBC increased its rate by 15 basis
points to 5.14 per cent, with more rate hikes across the board.
China’s Bitmain Technologies is eyeing bitcoin mining sites

in Quebec as expectations of a potential Chinese crackdown on
cryptocurrency mining make the energy-rich province an
attractive alternative. China has become one of the world’s
biggest sources of cryptocurrency mining but there are signs
Beijing is increasing scrutiny and may ask local authorities to
regulate bitcoin miners power use. A Bitmain spokesman said the
company is in talks with Hydro-Qu‚bec. It is also planning to
expand in Switzerland. Chevrolet Bolt EV
General Motors Co. is seeking United States government
approval for a fully autonomous car to be allowed as part of the
automaker’s first commercial ride-sharing fleet in 2019. The car
will not have a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator, as
well it will have accommodations for hearing and visually
impaired people. It will be called the Cruise AV and will be a
re-branded version of the company’s Chevrolet Bolt EV.