- USD/CAD trades in a tight range near 1.3550 as investors have sidelined ahead of the BoC’s monetary policy announcement.
- The BoC is expected to cut interest rates by 25 bps for the third straight time.
- The US Dollar delivers a modest correction with US NFP under spotlight.
The USD/CAD pair trades sideways near 1.3550 in Wednesday’s European trading hours. The Loonie asset struggles for direction as investors await the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) interest rate decision, which will be announced at 13:45 GMT.
Investors see the BoC cutting its key borrowing rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.25%. This will be the third straight interest rate cut decision by the BoC, which it started in June after gaining confidence that price pressures will return to the bank’s target of 2%. Also, the Canadian economy was struggling to bear the consequences of BoC’s restrictive interest rate stance, which forced them to start unwinding high rates.
Though the BoC is widely anticipated to cut interest rates, investors will majorly focus on the interest rate guidance and the economic outlook. Signs of deeper policy-easing this year from the monetary policy statement or BoC Governor’s Tiff Macklem press conference or both would weigh heavily on the Canadian Dollar (CAD).
Meanwhile, the US Dollar (USD) corrects slightly from fresh two-week highs as United States ISM Manufacturing PMI data for August exhibited contraction in the factory activities at a faster-than-projected pace. The PMI came in at 47.2, missed estimates of 47.5, but improved from an eight-month low of 46.8.
This week, the major trigger for the US Dollar is the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for August, which will be published on Friday. The official employment data will influence market expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cut size this month. Weak payrolls would prompt speculation for a large Fed rate cut while steady or better figures would allow the Fed to start the policy-easing process gradually.
Economic Indicator
BoC Interest Rate Decision
The Bank of Canada (BoC) announces its interest rate decision at the end of its eight scheduled meetings per year. If the BoC believes inflation will be above target (hawkish), it will raise interest rates in order to bring it down. This is bullish for the CAD since higher interest rates attract greater inflows of foreign capital. Likewise, if the BoC sees inflation falling below target (dovish) it will lower interest rates in order to give the Canadian economy a boost in the hope inflation will rise back up. This is bearish for CAD since it detracts from foreign capital flowing into the country.
Read more.Next release: Wed Sep 04, 2024 13:45
Frequency: Irregular
Consensus: 4.25%
Previous: 4.5%
Source: Bank of Canada
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 under pressure below 1.0400 on persistent USD strength
EUR/USD remains deep in the negative territory below 1.0400 on Tuesday, erasing a portion of Monday's gains. The pair is undermined by risk aversion and the persistent US Dollar demand, fuelled by US President Trump's tariff threats.
GBP/USD stays below 1.2300 after UK employment data
GBP/USD stays under bearish pressure and trades below 1.2300 on Tuesday as the USD preserves its strength following US President Trump's tariff threats. The data from the UK showed that the ILO Unemployment Rate edged higher to 4.4% in the three months to November.
Gold trades at multi-month highs above $2,720
Gold gathers bullish momentum and trades at its highest level since early November above $2,720 on Tuesday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield is down more than 1% below 4.6% following US President Trump's tariff threats, helping XAU/USD hold its ground.
Bitcoin fails to sustain the $109K mark after Trump’s inauguration
Bitcoin’s price steadies above the $102,000 mark on Tuesday after reaching a new all-time high of $109,588 the previous day. Santiment’s data shows that BTC prices quickly corrected, as social media showed major greed and FOMO among the traders in Bitcoin after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Prepare for huge US trade changes as Trump goes America first
You can be sure that big changes are coming as far as US trade is concerned, even if we didn't get any new tariffs on President Trump's first day in office. A comprehensive investigation into US trade relationships was initiated via a memorandum. China, Canada, and Mexico are clearly in the immediate firing line.
Trusted Broker Reviews for Smarter Trading
VERIFIED Discover in-depth reviews of reliable brokers. Compare features like spreads, leverage, and platforms. Find the perfect fit for your trading style, from CFDs to Forex pairs like EUR/USD and Gold.