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Canadian dollar slides as Canada's job growth declinesThe Canadian dollar has stabilized on Monday after declining close to 1% on Friday. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.4225, up 0.23% on the day. It has been a roller-coaster for the Canadian dollar, which jumped 1.1% on Thursday but gave up almost all of the gains a day later. Canada's economy shed 32.6 thousand jobs in March, the biggest decline since August 2022. This was a sharp reversal from the 1.1 thousand gain in February and much lower than the market estimate of 12 thousand. The unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from 6.6% and the participation rate ticked lower to 65.2% from 65.3%. The employment data points to weakness in the labor market and the economic chill from the latest US tariffs could lead to further deterioration of the employment landscape. Businesses are holding back on investment and hiring due to the economic uncertainty and the plunge in oil prices will hurt the economy, as Canada is a major oil producer. US nonfarm payrolls surprised on the upside with a gain of 228 thousand, up from a revised 117 thousand in February and above the market estimate of 135 thousand. This was the strongest nonfarm payroll reading in three months. The positive employment report was overshadowed by the latest round of US tariffs which have sent the financial markets tumbling lower. There are increasing fears that the US tariffs and expected counter-tariffs could upend the US economy and tip it into a recession. Investors are hoping that the Trump administration will reduce the tariffs or at least announce negotiations will take place with targeted countries. So far, however, Trump has sounded defiant and said that the tariffs will stay in place.
by OANDA
Canadian dollar shrugs as CPI declinesIt has been a quiet day in the currency markets, and the Canadian dollar has followed suit. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3386, down 0.15%. Inflation in Canada slowed to 6.3% y/y in December, down from 6.8% a month earlier and matching the consensus. On monthly basis, the decline was noticeable at -0.6%, compared to 0.0% in November and the forecast of -0.1%. Core CPI fell to 5.4% y/y, down from 5.8% in November and below the forecast of 6.1%. The driver of the drop in inflation was a sharp decline in gasoline prices. Food prices, however, remain high and rose by 11% in December, a slight improvement over the November read of 11.4%. The Canadian dollar shrugged off the drop in inflation and remains close to the 1.34 round-figure mark. The drop in inflation suggests that the Bank of Canada's aggressive rate cycle is having the desired effect, although inflation remains much higher than the BoC's target of 2%. The BoC holds its rate meeting next week, and the markets have priced in a 25- basis point hike, which would bring the cash rate to 4.50%. If inflation continues to downtrend, the expected hike next week could signal the end of the current rate-tightening cycle. The BoC has said that future hikes would be determined by economic data, and there are signs of economic strength despite the rate hikes. GDP is expected to rise 1.2% y/y in Q4 and job growth sparkled in December, with over 100,000 new jobs. The markets are expecting a 25-bp hike next week, but it's uncertain what the central bank has planned after that. The markets will be looking for clues about future rate policy from the rate statement and BoC Governor Macklem post-meeting comments. USD/CAD is testing support at 1.3389. Below, there is support at 1.3328 1.3455 and 1.3546 are the next resistance lines
by OANDA