Skip to main content

The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart on Friday, lagging behind some other commodity-linked currencies but recovering from a one-month low the day before as investors grew more hopeful about a U.S.-China trade deal.

At 3:18 p.m., the Canadian dollar was trading 0.2 per cent higher at 1.3226 to the greenback, or 75.61 U.S. cents.

The currency, which hit a one-month low at 1.3270 on Thursday, traded in a range of 1.3217 to 1.3252. For the week, the loonie was nearly unchanged.

Wall Street’s main stock indexes hit record highs after White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Thursday that the United States and China were nearing a deal.

Canada is a major exporter of commodities, including oil, so its economy could benefit from an improved global trade outlook. U.S. crude oil futures settled 1.7 per cent higher at $57.72 a barrel.

There is “a bit more of a pro-risk bias in the markets that has lifted the commodity currencies generally but CAD has been left behind in that move,” said Shaun Osborne, chief currency strategist at Scotiabank.

Commodity-linked currencies, such as the Australian dollar

and the New Zealand dollar posted stronger gains than the loonie, up 0.4 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively.

“We are pretty much in a holding pattern here around about 1.3250 (in USD-CAD) until we get some more information and we should get some more information next week,” Osborne said.

Canada’s inflation report for October is due next Wednesday and September retail sales data is due next Friday, both of which could help guide expectations for Bank of Canada interest rate cuts.

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is due to speak next Thursday. The loonie has declined as much as 1.5 per cent since Oct. 30, when the central bank left the door open to a possible interest rate cut over the coming months to help the economy weather trade uncertainty.

Canadian government bond prices were lower across the yield curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries as increased risk appetite reduced demand for government bonds.

The 10-year fell 21 cents to yield 1.487 per cent. On Thursday, the 10-year yield touched its lowest intraday level since Nov. 4 at 1.464 per cent.

Foreign investors bought a net $4.76 billion in Canadian securities in September, Statistics Canada said on Friday. Separate data from the Canadian Real Estate Association showed homes sales held steady in October.

Be smart with your money. Get the latest investing insights delivered right to your inbox three times a week, with the Globe Investor newsletter. Sign up today.

Report an editorial error

Report a technical issue

Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 29/03/24 10:53am EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
CADUSD-FX
Canadian Dollar/U.S. Dollar
-0.03%0.73834

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe