Canadian Dollar jumps above 1.3600 on rising crude oil prices

USD/CAD softens to around 1.3630 in Thursday’s early Asian session.
A rise in crude oil prices lifts the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar.
The US service sector showed expansion in February 2026.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

The USD/CAD pair loses ground to near 1.3630 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The Canadian Dollar (CAD) gathers strength against the Greenback amid a jump in oil prices. Traders will take more cues from the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims reports later on Thursday.

The escalating US-Iran conflict and potential supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz boost crude oil prices and provide some support to the commodity-linked Loonie. It is worth noting that Canada is a major oil-exporting country, and high crude oil prices generally have a positive impact on the CAD.

"We continue to expect volatility to stay elevated, but unless the conflict prompts a deeper global growth scare, oil support should help the loonie outperform European peers," said Monex Europe strategists.

Nonetheless, the upbeat US economic data might help limit the US Dollar’s (USD) losses. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed on Wednesday that the Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 56.1 in February versus 53.8 prior. This figure came in above the market consensus of 53.5. This report signaled robust economic activity and could underpin the USD.

Canadian Dollar FAQs

What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar?

The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar.

How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar?

The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive.

How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar?

The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD.

How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar?

While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar.

How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar?

Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

AUD/USD eases from one-month high; holds above 0.7000 amid softer USD

AUD/USD pulls back slightly after hitting a fresh one-month high in the Asian session on Monday as bulls turn cautious ahead of the latest Australian consumer inflation figures and the crucial FOMC decision later this week. Meanwhile, expectations of another RBA rate hike in November support the Aussie. Moreover, a softer US Dollar helps the currency pair hold above the 0.7000 psychological mark.

USD/JPY extends recovery from one-month low beyond 157.00

USD/JPY kicks off the week on a positive note, building on Friday's modest bounce from the 156.00 neighborhood, or a one-month low amid some repositioning ahead of key central bank events and data risks. The Fed and the BoJ will announce their policy decisions on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. This, along with the release of Advance US Q3 GDP and the PCE Price Index on Thursday, should provide some meaningful impetus to the currency pair.

Gold struggles below $4,000 as oil-driven inflation fears reaffirm Fed hike bets

Gold attracts follow-through selling at the start of the new week, trading below $4,000 during the Asian session and near a three-month low. Higher energy prices continue to fuel inflation fears and reinforce US rate-hike expectations, undermining the non-yielding bullion. Bears, however, might refrain from placing aggressive bets ahead of the crucial FOMC meeting and other key central bank events this week.

Week ahead: Central bank and earnings bonanza could roil markets

After joining the rate-hike club in September, the Federal Reserve looks set to stand pat in October, waiting to assess more data before deciding to hike again. Whilst this isn’t an unusual move for a central bank, it somewhat contradicts Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s new mantra of data dependency and zero forward guidance.

CFTC Report: WTI rally runs ahead of positioning

The week in one sentence: WTI prices surged while speculative longs were cut in the week to October 20, creating the clearest price/positioning divergence. Sterling and the Canadian Dollar led the constructive currency shift, while Yen longs also rebuilt. Speculators turned less constructive on the WTI, reducing their net exposure to around 89.3K contracts.

What November 3 means for the Fed's rate path and the US Dollar

The USD faces a decisive period ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. While markets anticipate another interest rate increase from the Fed in December, the battle for control of Congress could reshape fiscal policy expectations and, indirectly, the path of US monetary policy in 2027.