USD/CAD Price Forecast: Bulls hesitant above 1.3600 as Oil prices counter USD strength

USD/CAD stalls a two-day-old recovery move from a nearly two-month trough amid mixed cues.
Elevated Oil prices underpin the Loonie, while rising US-Iran tensions benefit the safe-haven USD.
The technical setup, too, warrants some caution before positioning for any meaningful upside.

Haresh Menghani FXStreet

The USD/CAD pair struggles to capitalize on a two-day-old recovery move from the 1.3550 area, or its lowest level since March 10, and oscillates in a range during the Asian session on Tuesday. Spot prices currently trade around the 1.3620 area amid a combination of diverging forces.

The risk of a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East amid the US-Iran standoff over the Strait of Hormuz acts as a tailwind for Crude Oil prices, which is seen underpinning the commodity-linked Loonie. This, along with the lack of follow-through US Dollar (USD) buying, keeps a lid on the USD/CAD pair. However, persistent geopolitical uncertainties and hawkish US Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations favor the USD bulls, backing the case for a further appreciating move for the currency pair.

The USD/CAD pair is holding a mildly bearish near-term bias as it remains capped beneath the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart. The said hurdle at 1.3650 coincides with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level of the late March-early May downfall and should act as a pivotal point. Momentum indicators are mixed, with the Relative Strength Index nearing the neutral territory at 51 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) marginally positive.

The technical setup, in turn, hints at fading downside pressure but not yet a clear bullish reversal while the USD/CAD pair trades below the aforementioned confluence hurdle. A sustained strength beyond, however, should pave the way for further gains towards the 38.2% retracement at 1.3710 and the 50.0% level at 1.3758. The momentum could extend further towards the 61.8% level at 1.3806, which is the prevailing supply zone on the topside.

On the downside, the next meaningful support aligns with the recent swing low around 1.3553, where buyers may attempt to rebuild a base should selling pressure resume.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

USD/CAD 4-hour chart

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

Haresh Menghani

FXStreet

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

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