USDCAD: One of the Most Geopolitical-Based Currency PairsHello Traders,
The Trump presidency may bring three significant changes to the financial world:
We might see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
We might see more support for Israel against Iran.
We might see increased tariffs on US imports.
All three changes could affect the pair in both directions, making them a double-edged sword for USDCAD.
Trump previously had good relations with Putin and is known for his anti-interventionism under his America First policy. Aid to Ukraine may decrease, which I am not in favor of, as Ukraine represents the frontline of democracy in the war against Putin. Abandoning Ukraine could encourage other dictators, like China, to attack other countries. Recently, Zelensky accepted the idea of temporarily giving up some territories to Russia if Russia allows NATO's presence in Ukraine, a negotiation he previously refused before Trump won the election.
A peace agreement or long-term ceasefire between Putin and Ukraine may strengthen the USD, as the world would feel safer, attracting more capital to the growing US economy. However, the strength of the USD against the EUR, the 2nd most powerful currency in the forex market, could also attract more capital to Euro.
The Abraham Accords were one of Trump's most successful initiatives. The proxy war between Israel and Iran escalated after the October 7 massacre, with Iran losing most of its proxies. Iran's missile capabilities have been tested and are now recognized as a weak, not-dangerous ability. Previously, Iran had three cards to play against Israel and the West: proxies, missiles, and nuclear capabilities. Now, it only has nuclear activities. Many are waiting for Israel to strike Iran's suspicious nuclear facilities. Such an attack could significantly impact the markets, particularly the CAD. There are two possible scenarios: if Iran does not retaliate due to its inability to do so, the USD would strengthen as more capital flows in. Conversely, if Iran manages to close the Strait of Hormuz for a few days, oil prices would rise significantly, prompting U.S. and Western intervention, leading to a prolonged conflict that would drive oil prices higher. Since Canada depends on oil and energy, any increase in prices would boost the CAD.
Regarding tariffs, imposing them may weaken the CAD, but as Trudeau stated, Americans “are beginning to wake up to the reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive.” Canada would retaliate, and if the eurozone follows suit, the U.S. economy could be negatively affected. As forex traders, we know how powerful and important the U.S. is, but we also recognize that other economies have their strengths, and the world is not solely defined by the U.S. For instance, an official in Ontario's government mentioned that they would restrict electricity exports to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota if President-elect Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products.
So, consider all three factors if you plan to invest long-term in either currency. For the shorter term, we should also keep these developments in mind, as they could happen at any moment. Any night, Israeli bombers could fly over Syria and Iran to target Iran's nuclear facilities, which could lead to a substantial gain in CAD value.
Right now, from a technical perspective: any retracement to the green box at 1.4190 could present an opportunity to increase the price of the pair. Conversely, a break below the channel and 1.41610 would signal a chance for more bearish moves.
Sources for US Tariffs on Canada:
apnews.com
apnews.com
