This Week's Data Is Tentatively Positive For Canadian Dollar

 | Jan 06, 2016 07:56AM ET

Bank of Canada Governor speaks on Thursday

Last December, the Canadian dollar rate reached the 11-year high against the US currency which means its severe weakening. Nevertheless, the chart stopped moving upwards. Fossil fuels are the heart of Canadian export. Their current price is quite stable. Will it support the Canadian dollar? On the chart, the CAD strengthening will look as the fall of USD/CAD.
On December 18, 2015, the Canadian dollar fell to the lowest in 11 years at C$1,4003. It is strongly dependent on the global oil prices and fell almost one third since 2014 and 16% since the start of 2015. Now oil has stabilized amid the Iran and Saudi Arabia tensions which may strengthen the Canadian dollar (the downward correction on the chart). On January 7, 2016 the Governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz will speak and may give some clues on the further rate changes that is now at 0.5%. Previously most investors expected the lower rates which would have pushed the Canadian dollar lower and mean the growth on the USD/CAD chart. Investors’ confidence evaporated when the US Fed hiked the rates. The next Bank of Canada meeting is due on January 20. This week the important data on the Canada’s external trade in November will come out on Wednesday and the labour market report will be released on Friday. We believe their tentative outlook is positive for the Canadian dollar and may push the Canadian dollar lower in case the expectations will prove true.