Canadian Dollar strengthens as risk-on mood weighs on US Dollar
- USD/CAD falls as the US Dollar weakens on improved sentiment amid Middle East de-escalation hopes.
- Trump said the war is “close to over,” with reports suggesting a possible two-week ceasefire extension.
- Easing energy prices eased inflation concerns and reduced expectations of further tightening.
USD/CAD loses ground for the fourth successive day, trading around 1.3730 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair depreciates as the US Dollar (USD) continues to lose ground on improved market sentiment, driven by expectations of a potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.
US President Donald Trump stated that the war was “close to over.” A Bloomberg report indicated speculation about a possible two-week extension of a ceasefire, although Trump dismissed the necessity of such a move, citing ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
The Greenback faced additional pressure from easing energy prices, which helped ease inflation concerns and tempered expectations of further central bank tightening. The Federal Reserve (Fed) is widely anticipated to hold interest rates steady this month and possibly for the rest of the year.
However, the downside of the USD/CAD pair could be restrained as the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) may face challenges with easing oil prices. It is important to note that Canada is the largest crude exporter to the United States (US).
Reports suggested that Washington and Tehran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to allow more time for peace negotiations, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut under a dual blockade. However, Tehran may permit vessels to transit freely via the Omani side of the Strait if an agreement is reached to prevent a renewed escalation in hostilities.
Canadian Dollar FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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