Canadian Dollar strengthens despite hawkish Fed expectations

USD/CAD softesn to near 1.4205 in Wednesday’s Asian session.
Iran’s Pezeshkian said no negotiation on ballistic missiles.
Traders raise their bets on a US rate hike this year.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

The USD/CAD pair edges lower to around 1.4205 during the Asian trading hours on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the potential downside for the pair might be limited amid rising expectations of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike this year. The US May Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index (PCE) data will take center stage later on Thursday.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that Tehran’s ballistic missile program will not be included in negotiations with the United States (US), per BBC.

US President Donald Trump rebuffed Iran’s claim that no visit has been scheduled for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, insisting Tehran had already agreed to the arrangement. Uncertainty surrounding US-Iran peace deal could support the US Dollar (US) against the Canadian Dollar (CAD).

Markets adjusted expectations for a more hawkish stance from the Fed, lifting the Greenback. Traders are now pricing in nearly a 86.1% chance of a Fed hike in December, up from 61% before last week’s FOMC meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff Macklem said on Tuesday that global imbalances of financial flows, led by China's export surplus and the reliance of the United States on foreign capital, and ‌may be fuelling financial stability risks."

The Loonie has been on the backfoot for several weeks with well-documented reasoning of widening yield differentials in favor of the USD, slowing growth, trade uncertainty or the uneasy status quo and a mostly asymmetric risk response to the Iran war," said Amo Sahota, director at Klarity FX in San Francisco.

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.

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