The Canadian dollar edged higher against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday but remained in this week’s narrow range as investors grew more optimistic about trade talks between the United States and China.
Wall Street was set to rise for the first time in three sessions after a report that China is still open to agreeing to a partial trade deal with the United States. The two countries begin high-level trade talks on Thursday.
Canada is a major exporter of commodities, including oil, so its economy could benefit from a more certain outlook for global trade.
U.S. crude oil futures rose 1.5 per cent to $53.42 a barrel as concerns eased about escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, while unrest in OPEC members Iraq and Ecuador also supported prices.
At 9:07 a.m. (1307 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading 0.1 per cent higher at 1.3318 to the greenback, or 75.09 U.S. cents. The currency traded in a range of 1.3296 to 1.3328.
Since the start of the week, the range has been only slightly wider at between 1.3289 and 1.3336.
Canada’s employment report for September, due on Friday, can help guide expectations for the Bank of Canada policy outlook.
Robust job gains this year have supported the central bank’s decision to leave its benchmark interest rate on hold at 1.75 per cent this year even as some of its peers, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, have reduced borrowing costs.
Canadian government bond prices were lower across the yield curve, with the two-year down 1.5 Canadian cents to yield 1.449 per cent and the benchmark 10-year falling 9 Canadian cents to yield 1.288 per cent.
The 2-year yield rose 1.4 basis points further above the yield on its U.S. counterpart to a spread of 3 basis points. Last Wednesday, the spread turned positive for the first time in about two years.
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