USD/CAD makes a sharp U-turn, slumps below 1.3430


  • Treasury Sec. Mnuchin says they are close to deal with Canada on tariffs.
  • BoC's core CPI drops to 1.5% in April.
  • US Dollar Index turns flat near 97.50 

The USD/CAD pair rose to a weekly high of 1.3493 in the early NA session but failed to push higher and changed its direction in the last hour to erase all of its daily gains. As of writing, the pair was down 0.2% on a daily basis at 1.3433.

Earlier today, Statistics Canada reported that inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, ticked up to 2% on a yearly basis in April and came in line with the market expectation. However, the Bank of Canada's core CPI, which strips volatile energy and food prices, fell to 1.5% and missed the analysts' estimate of 1.8%, suggesting that the BoC is unlikely to continue to hike rates in a soft inflation environment and weighed on the loonie. 

However, following the initial spike in reaction to the data, the pair made a sharp U-turn with the latest trade headlines helping the CAD gather strength. According to the Wall Street Journal, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said they were close to an understanding with Mexico and Canada on resolving steel and aluminum tariffs. 

On the other hand, several news outlets reported that the Trump administration was planning to delay tariffs on European car imports to help the risk appetite return to markets and hurt the demand for the safer greenback. The US Dollar Index, which rose to 97.70 earlier in the session, erased its gains and turned flat near 97.50. Today's data from the U.S. showed that retail sales and industrial production both declined in April but was largely ignored by the markets.

On Thursday, manufacturing shipments and ADP employment change data from Canada will be looked upon for fresh impetus. The U.S. economic docket will feature weekly jobless claims and housing starts figures.

Technical levels to watch for

The pair could face the first hurdle at 1.3500 (psychological level) ahead of 1.3520 (Apr. 24 high) and 1.3600 (Dec. 21, 2018, high). On the downside, supports are located at 1.3425 (daily low), 1.3400 (50-DMA) and 1.3345 (Apr. 23 low).

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD clings to daily gains above 1.0650

EUR/USD clings to daily gains above 1.0650

EUR/USD gained traction and turned positive on the day above 1.0650. The improvement seen in risk mood following the earlier flight to safety weighs on the US Dollar ahead of the weekend and helps the pair push higher.

EUR/USD News

GBP/USD recovers toward 1.2450 after UK Retail Sales data

GBP/USD recovers toward 1.2450 after UK Retail Sales data

GBP/USD reversed its direction and advanced to the 1.2450 area after touching a fresh multi-month low below 1.2400 in the Asian session. The positive shift seen in risk mood on easing fears over a deepening Iran-Israel conflict supports the pair.

GBP/USD News

Gold holds steady at around $2,380 following earlier spike

Gold holds steady at around $2,380 following earlier spike

Gold stabilized near $2,380 after spiking above $2,400 with the immediate reaction to reports of Israel striking Iran. Meanwhile, the pullback seen in the US Treasury bond yields helps XAU/USD hold its ground.

Gold News

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC post-halving rally could be partially priced in Premium

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC post-halving rally could be partially priced in

Bitcoin price shows no signs of directional bias while it holds above  $60,000. The fourth BTC halving is partially priced in, according to Deutsche Bank’s research. 

Read more

Week ahead – US GDP and BoJ decision on top of next week’s agenda

Week ahead – US GDP and BoJ decision on top of next week’s agenda

US GDP, core PCE and PMIs the next tests for the Dollar. Investors await BoJ for guidance about next rate hike. EU and UK PMIs, as well as Australian CPIs also on tap.

Read more

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures