OTTAWA — Many economists expect no change in the Bank of Canada’s benchmark interest rate later this week — and, possibly, for the rest of the year. The central bank will make its first interest rate decision of 2026 on Wednesday. Financial market odds for a rate hold this week stood at nearly 90 per cent as of Monday morning, according to LSEG Data & Analytics. The Bank of Canada held its policy rate steady at 2.25 per cent in December, coming off two consecutive quarter-point cuts in the second half of 2025. At that decision, governor Tiff Macklem said the central bank believes monetary policy is at “about the right level” to balance a turbulent economy and lingering inflationary pressures. TD Bank economist Rishi Sondhi said in a note Friday that forecasters ought to take the Bank of Canada at its word when it comes to rate expectations.