USD/CAD Canadian Dollar Lower After U.S. Paris Accord Decision Sinks Oil

 | Jun 04, 2017 02:15AM ET

The Canadian dollar is trading lower versus the US dollar on Friday despite the U.S. non farm payrolls (NFP) disappointing investors by missing the target with a more modest 138,000 job gains. The US got some support from the drop in the unemployment rate to a 16 year low, to 4.3 percent. The loonie was unable to capitalize on the softer economic data out of the United States this week as the decision by the Trump administration to drop out of the Paris Climate accord was read as a signal of an impending increase in US shale drilling. The price of oil reacted negatively and is down almost 4 percent on a weekly basis. Earlier in the week the drawdown in US inventories took the price of WTI above $50, but it is currently trading at $47.55.

Canadian exports climbed to a record high in April as the weaker currency appears to have finally helped exporters turn the corner. Canada remains at a deficit, but exports grew at a faster pace than imports but still could not cover a C$370 million gap. There is a surplus with the US where Canada sent C$5 billion more than it imported, and a jump from C$3.4 billion the month before, this won’t go unnoticed by the Trump administration as the process to renegotiate NAFTA has been triggered with talks dates still not set, but expected in late August.

The miss in the US jobs report is not anticipated to derail the June rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The central bank will meet in June 13 and 14 to make its monetary policy decision. The CME FedWatch tool continues to price in a more than 90 percent chance of a rate hike in June. Fed speakers have supported this move in their comments, without mentioning the upcoming meeting but making clear that the Fed could raise rates two or more times this year. The June rate hike is already taken into consideration in the valuation of the US dollar, but further moves in particular September and December are questionable. Improved data and guidance similar to the one before the March rate hike will be needed barring anymore controversies out of the White House that could impair the greenback.