USD/CAD: Canadian Dollar Improves To 14-Day High, Retail Sales Next

 | Nov 22, 2016 08:10AM ET

The Canadian dollar is showing limited movement in the Tuesday session, following sharp gains on Monday. Currently, USD/CAD is trading at the 1.34 line. On the release front, Canada will publish key retail sales data. The markets are expecting a strong rebound in the September report, with the estimates for Core Retail Sales at 0.6% and Retail Sales at 0.7%. In the US, today’s highlight is Existing Home Sales, with the indicator expected to dip to 5.43 million. Wednesday will be much busier, with a host of key releases in the US, highlighted by Core Retail Sales and the FOMC meeting minutes.

Canadian indicators started off the week on a sour note, as Wholesale Sales was well off the estimate. The indicator fell 1.2% in September, its first decline since March. The markets had expected a gain of 0.3%. The markets are expecting better news from retail sales, which are important gauges of consumer spending. If the readings match or beat the estimates, the Canadian dollar could post further gains against the greenback.

The US dollar has been on an impressive roll, bolstered by Donald Trump’s election victory earlier this month. With a rate hike in December a near-certainty, sentiment towards the dollar should remain high. However, with a new government taking over the reins, what will happen in early 2017 is a big question mark which could translate into volatility in the markets. Trump’s election promises of more spending and less taxes have been vague and we will have to wait for the new Trump administration to unveil a detailed economic platform.

The Federal Reserve is in favor of gradual rate hikes next year, but this assumes that the US economy continues to strengthen. In testimony before a congressional committee last week, Fed chair Janet Yellen acknowledged the uncertainty created by Trump’s victory and said that the Fed might have to adjust its outlook, based on the new president’s economic policies.

USD/CAD Fundamentals

Tuesday (November 22)

  • 8:30 Canadian Core Retail Sales. Estimate 0.6%
  • 8:30 Canadian Retail Sales. Estimate 0.7%
  • 10:00 US Existing Home Sales. Estimate 5.43M
  • 10:00 US Richmond Manufacturing Index. Estimate 1 point

Wednesday (November 23)

  • 8:30 US Core Retail Sales. Estimate 0.6%
  • 8:30 US Retail Sales. Estimate 0.7%
  • 8:30 US Core Durable Goods Orders. Estimate 0.2%
  • 8:30 US Unemployment Claims. Estimate 241K
  • 10:00 US New Home Sales. Estimate 591K
  • 10:00 US Revised UoM Consumer Sentiment. Estimate 91.6
  • 14:00 US FOMC Meeting Minutes
Get The News You Want
Read market moving news with a personalized feed of stocks you care about.
Get The App

*All release times are EST

*Key events are in bold

USD/CAD for Tuesday, November 22, 2016