|

USD/CAD consolidates in a range above mid-1.2400s

   •  Subdued USD action fails to provide fresh impetus.
   •  Bullish oil prices further capping the up-move.
 
The USD/CAD pair now seems to have entered a consolidation phase and was seen oscillating within a narrow trading range above mid-1.2400s.

The pair's overnight up-move stalled ahead of the key 1.2500 psychological mark, with a combination of factors failing to assist the pair to build on its modest recovery move from Friday's over 3-month lows. 

A modest US Dollar retracement, primarily led by a sharp Yen appreciation, did little to provide any fresh impetus. This coupled with the prevailing strong bullish sentiment around oil markets, WTI crude oil hitting its highest level since December 2014, underpinned the commodity-linked currency - Loonie and further collaborated towards keeping a lid on any additional gains for the major.

It would now be interesting to see if the pair is able to catch any fresh bids or resumes with its depreciating slide amid growing prospects for a BOC rate hike move next week and absent market moving economic releases. 

Technical levels to watch

Immediate strong resistance remains near the 1.2500 handle, above which the recovery move could get extended towards 1.2530-35 supply zone. On the flip side, follow-through weakness back below mid-1.2400s could drag the pair back towards retesting the 1.2400 handle.
 

Author

Haresh Menghani

Haresh Menghani is a detail-oriented professional with 10+ years of extensive experience in analysing the global financial markets.

More from Haresh Menghani
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD recovers to 1.1750 region as 2025 draws to a close

Following the bearish action seen in the European session on Wednesday, EUR/USD regains its traction and recovery to the 1.1750 region. Nevertheless, the pair's volatility remains low as trading conditions thin out on the last day of the year.

GBP/USD stays weak near 1.3450 on modest USD recovery

GBP/USD remains under modest beairsh pressure and fluctuates at around 1.3450 on Wednesday. The US Dollar finds fresh demand due to the end-of-the-year position adjustments, weighing on the pair amid the pre-New Year trading lull. 

Gold climbs to near $4,350 on Fed rate cut bets, geopolitical risks

Gold price rises to near $4,345 during the early Asian session on Friday. Gold finished 2025 with a significant rally, achieving an annual gain of around 65%, its biggest annual gain since 1979. The rally of the precious metal is bolstered by the prospect of further US interest rate cuts in 2026 and safe-haven flows.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prepare for a potential New Year rebound

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are holding steady on Wednesday after recording minor gains on the previous day. Technically, Bitcoin could extend gains within a triangle pattern while Ethereum and Ripple face critical overhead resistance. 

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Crypto market outlook for 2026

Year 2025 was volatile, as crypto often is.  Among positive catalysts were favourable regulatory changes in the U.S., rise of Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT), adoption of AI and tokenization of Real-World-Assets (RWA).