Most recent article: Canadian Dollar slips back on Tuesday as Crude Oil slumps, US CPI inflation meets expectations
- Canadian Dollar climbs on Monday, catching a broad-market bid.
- Canada economic data is thin this week, but BoC Gov Macklem will make Friday appearance.
- US CPI inflation, Fed rate call and interest rate outlook to be the week’s linchpin.
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) eased higher on Monday, taking a slim but broad step up against most of its major currency peers as markets gear up for a hectic week that sees several high-impact central bank showings to round the corner into the end of the trading year.
Canada is largely absent from the economic calendar data docket this week, with only a smattering of low-tier data late Thursday and into Friday. The only event of note will be Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff Macklem’s appearance, slated for late Friday. BoC Governor Macklem will be giving a speech at the Economic Club of Toronto, with the speech text released fifteen minutes ahead.
The upcoming trading week will see significant focus on central bank action with a US inflation data kicker when US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is released on Tuesday. Wednesday will be of particular note to CAD when the US Federal Reserve (Fed) releases its latest rate call as markets broadly forecast a hold at 5.25% to 5.5%.
The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will release its updated economic projections alongside its policy statement, and investors will be looking closely at any changes to the FOMC’s forward-looking interest rate projections, known as the “Dot Plot”. The Fed’s Monetary Policy Statement and rate call are slated for 19:00 GMT on Wednesday, with the FOMC Press Conference thirty minutes later at 19:30 GMT.
Daily Digest Market Movers: Canadian Dollar steps higher across the board in thin Monday action
- The Canadian Dollar is in the green to kick off the new trading week, climbing a full percent against the Japanese Yen (JPY).
- The CAD is hardening gains against the Aussie, up one-third of a percent against the Antipodean.
- The CAD’s weakest performance on Monday is still on the measured side, shedding a scant half of a tenth of a percent against the Swiss Franc (CHF) and climbing a tenth of a percent against the US Dollar (USD) in Monday trading.
- The broader market’s key focus in the early week will be US inflation data with Tuesday’s CPI release.
- Market forecasts call for Core US CPI to climb at the near end of the tail with annualized inflation expected to hold steady.
- Headline MoM US CPI inflation is forecast to tick up from 0.0% to 0.1% for November, with the YoY expected to tick down from 3.2% to 3.1%.
- November’s Core US CPI is forecast to print at 0.3% versus October’s 0.2%, with consumer price growth (less food and energy prices) expected to hold flat at 4% for the year into November, still well above the Fed’s 2% target.
- Market could see positioning shifts on Tuesday as investors glean Fed forecasts from Tuesday’s CPI inflation print.
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is bidding higher on Monday, seeing thin but determined gains against the US Dollar (USD) to keep the USD/CAD pair pinned below the 1.3600 handle.
Canadian Dollar price today
The table below shows the percentage change of Canadian Dollar (CAD) against listed major currencies today. Canadian Dollar was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.
| USD | EUR | GBP | CAD | AUD | JPY | NZD | CHF | |
| USD | 0.01% | -0.03% | -0.08% | 0.22% | 0.85% | -0.04% | -0.12% | |
| EUR | -0.02% | -0.05% | -0.09% | 0.20% | 0.84% | -0.05% | -0.13% | |
| GBP | 0.05% | 0.06% | -0.04% | 0.27% | 0.89% | 0.01% | -0.08% | |
| CAD | 0.08% | 0.10% | 0.04% | 0.30% | 0.93% | 0.05% | -0.04% | |
| AUD | -0.22% | -0.20% | -0.26% | -0.30% | 0.63% | -0.25% | -0.34% | |
| JPY | -0.85% | -0.84% | -0.99% | -0.94% | -0.64% | -0.89% | -0.98% | |
| NZD | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.00% | -0.04% | 0.26% | 0.89% | -0.08% | |
| CHF | 0.12% | 0.14% | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.33% | 0.97% | 0.08% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/JPY (quote).
Technical Analysis: Canadian Dollar looks for space to the upside on Monday, USD/CAD softens towards 1.3560
Intraday action sees some consolidation for the USD/CAD between the 50-hour and 200-hour Simple Moving Averages (SMA) near 1.3585 and 1.3570, respectively. Bids have cycled inside last week’s late range between 1.3620 and 1.3560.
Daily candlesticks have the USD/CAD waffling just north of the 200-day SMA near 1.3515, and price action is set to see some rough chop with the pair caught between the 200-day SMA and the 50-day SMA near 1.3700. Technical resistance firms up at the 1.3600 handle, sandwiching prices between the major price level and the long-term moving average.
USD/CAD Hourly Chart
USD/CAD Daily Chart
Canadian Dollar FAQs
What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar?
The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar.
How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar?
The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive.
How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar?
The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD.
How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar?
While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar.
How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar?
Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stays vulnerable near 1.0600 ahead of US inflation data
EUR/USD remains under pressure near 1.0600 in European trading on Wednesday. The pair faces headwinds from the recent US Dollar upsurge, Germany's political instability and a cautiou market mood, as traders look to US CPI data and Fedspeak for fresh directives.
GBP/USD falls to near 1.2750 ahead of BoE Mann speech
GBP/USD extends its losing streak for the fourth successive session, trading around 1.2740 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. This downside of the pair is attributed to a stronger US Dollar amid optimism around the Trump trades.
Gold price sticks to gains above $2,600 amid some repositioning ahead of US CPI
Gold price staged a notable recovery from a nearly two-month low touched on Tuesday. Elevated US bond yields and a bullish USD might cap gains for the non-yielding XAU/USD. Traders now look forward to the crucial US consumer inflation figures for a fresh impetus.
US CPI data preview: Inflation expected to rebound for first time in seven months
The US Consumer Price Index is set to rise 2.6% YoY in October, faster than September’s 2.4% increase. Annual core CPI inflation is expected to remain at 3.3% in October. The inflation data could significantly impact the market’s pricing of the Fed’s interest rate outlook and the US Dollar value.
Five fundamentals: Fallout from the US election, inflation, and a timely speech from Powell stand out Premium
What a week – the US election lived up to their hype, at least when it comes to market volatility. There is no time to rest, with politics, geopolitics, and economic data promising more volatility ahead.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.