The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that last week, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions released its final stress-test rules, tweaking proposed guidelines that had been released in July. The Globe's David Berman writes that under the new rules, homeowners with down payments of more than 20 per cent will have to qualify for mortgages at higher rates. This new lending standard officially takes effect in January. The stock market has already reacted. The big banks, which underwrite about 80 per cent of Canadian mortgages, have continued a rally that began last month. On Tuesday, the S&P/TSX commercial banks index hit a fresh record high, stretching year-to-date gains to 9 per cent. This rally is being driven in part by the strong Canadian economy, rising interest rates and higher oil prices. However, the new mortgage rules certainly have not hurt. Bank stocks have risen more than 1.5 per cent over the past week, or about three times the pace of the Canadian benchmark index. Smaller mortgage lenders, such as Home Capital Group, are struggling. Although Equitable Group's share price has been rising, it is still more than 20 per cent off its highs in February.