- USD/CAD regains some positive traction on Friday and snaps a two-day losing streak.
- A softer Crude Oil prices undermines the Loonie and acts as a tailwind for the major.
- The Fed’s hawkish stance lends support to the USD and contributes to the move up.
- Traders look to the US Core PCE Price Index and Canadian GDP for a fresh impetus.
The USD/CAD pair attracts fresh buying during the Asian session on Friday and for now, seems to have snapped a two-day losing streak. Spot prices struggle to capitalize on the move beyond the 1.3500 psychological mark, though remain well within the striking distance of over a one-week high touched on Wednesday
Crude Oil prices languish below a one-year peak set the previous day, which, in turn, is seen undermining the commodity-linked Loonie and acting as a tailwind for the USD/CAD pair. Expectations of supply increases by Russia and Saudi Arabia, to a larger extent, outweigh the optimistic view over a pickup in demand from China during its Golden Week holiday. This prompts traders to lighten their bullish bets around the black liquid, especially after this week's nearly 8% rally from the vicinity of mid-$88.00s.
Apart from this, the underlying strong bullish tone surrounding the US Dollar (USD) offers additional support to the USD/CAD pair. As investors look past Thursday's rather unimpressive US macro data, growing acceptance that the Federal Reserve (Fed) helps limit the USD corrective decline from its highest level since November 2022 touched on Thursday. In fact, the US central bank warned last week that sticky inflation in the US was likely to attract at least one more rate hike by the end of this year.
Hence, the market focus will remain glued to the release of the US Core PCE Price Index – the Fed's preferred inflation gauge – later during the early North American session. The data will play a key role in influencing market expectations about the next policy move by the Fed, which, in turn, will drive the USD demand and provide a fresh impetus to the USD/CAD pair. Traders on Friday will further take cues from the monthly Canadian GDP and Oil price dynamics to grab short-term opportunities.
In the meantime, th prospects for further policy tightening by the Fed remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields, which should continue to act as a tailwind for the buck and the USD/CAD pair. Nevertheless, spot prices seem poised to register modest weekly gains for the first time in the previous three.
Technical levels to watch
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 near 1.0400 in thin holiday trading
EUR/USD trades with mild losses near 1.0400 on Tuesday. The expectation that the US Federal Reserve will deliver fewer rate cuts in 2025 provides some support for the US Dollar. Trading volumes are likely to remain low heading into the Christmas break.
GBP/USD struggles to find direction, holds steady near 1.2550
GBP/USD consolidates in a range at around 1.2550 on Tuesday after closing in negative territory on Monday. The US Dollar preserves its strength and makes it difficult for the pair to gain traction as trading conditions thin out on Christmas Eve.
Gold holds above $2,600, bulls non-committed on hawkish Fed outlook
Gold trades in a narrow channel above $2,600 on Tuesday, albeit lacking strong follow-through buying. Geopolitical tensions and trade war fears lend support to the safe-haven XAU/USD, while the Fed’s hawkish shift acts as a tailwind for the USD and caps the precious metal.
IRS says crypto staking should be taxed in response to lawsuit
In a filing on Monday, the US International Revenue Service stated that the rewards gotten from staking cryptocurrencies should be taxed, responding to a lawsuit from couple Joshua and Jessica Jarrett.
2025 outlook: What is next for developed economies and currencies?
As the door closes in 2024, and while the year feels like it has passed in the blink of an eye, a lot has happened. If I had to summarise it all in four words, it would be: ‘a year of surprises’.
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.