USD/CAD rebounds from weekly lows on Fed speakers’ comments, despite soft US data


  • USD/CAD is set to trim some of its weekly losses, with bulls eyeing 1.3400.
  • US Retail Sales take a nosedive, plunging 1% MoM in March, while Industrial Production falls for the first time in 2023.
  • Inflation expectations for one year in the United States soared 1%, from 3.6% to 4.6%.

The USD/CAD snaps four days of straight losses and bounces from weekly lows around 1.3300 early in the North American session. A tranche of US data flashes the economy is feeling the cumulative tightening by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) while Consumer Sentiment improved. The USD/CAD is trading at 1.3366, above its opening price.

US consumer sentiment improved, but inflation expectations rose

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) encountered headwinds like Fed’s official Christopher Waller saying that more tightening is needed amidst a solid labor market and stickier core inflation on the consumer and producer side. US Retail Sales disappointed analysts and plunged 1% MoM in March, compared to a 0.4% contraction. Annually-based data was 2.9%, below the prior’s month 5.9%.

At the same time, the Fed revealed that Industrial Production in March fell for the first time in 2023, expanding 0.4% MoM vs. estimates of 0.2%, and trailed February’s 0.9% data. Production output dropped due to a pullback in durable goods.

Lately, the University of Michigan (UoM) Consumer Sentiment poll showed an improvement in sentiment in April, up from 62 to 63.5, though inflation expectations for one year jumped 1% from 3.6% to 4.6%. That exacerbated a jump in US bond yields, with the 2-year recovering some ground, jumping 13 basis points, at 4.105%, and underpinning the US Dollar.

The US Dollar Index, a measure of the buck’s value against six currencies, is making a U-turn, up 0.48%, at 101.487.

Another Fed official, Chicago’s President Austan Golsbee, noted that he would focus on tighter credit conditions and lending data regarding his decision for the upcoming May 2-3 meeting. Golsbee added that although inflation is cooling, there is some “clear stickiness: in some price categories.

On the Canadian front, Statistics Canada revealed that manufacturing sales slid 3.6% in February, weighed by sales of petroleum and coal products. Expectations were for a 2.7% plunge, though the slippage in oil and coal products of 14.8% dragged the index lower.

USD/CAD Technical analysis

USD/CAD Daily Chart

Given the backdrop, the USD/CAD found some bids before the weekend, though the upward correction toward the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 1.3377 could be short-lived. If USD/CAD buyers reclaim the 200-day EMA, that will expose 1.3400 and could shift the pair’s bias to neutral, with a daily close above the latter. Otherwise, USD/CAD sellers might step in and drag prices towards the YTD low at 1.3262, ahead of falling to 1.3200.

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 turns negative near 1.0760

EUR/USD turns negative near 1.0760

The sudden bout of strength in the Greenback sponsored the resurgence of the selling pressure in the risk complex, dragging EUR/USD to the area of daily lows near 1.0760.

EUR/USD News

GBP/USD comes under pressure and challenges 1.2500

GBP/USD comes under pressure and challenges 1.2500

GBP/USD now rapidly loses momentum and gives away initial gains, returning to the 1.2500 region on the back of the strong comeback of the US Dollar.

GBP/USD News

Gold retreats from highs on stronger Dollar, yields

Gold retreats from highs on stronger Dollar, yields

XAU/USD trims part of its initial advance in response to the jump in the Dollar's buying interest and the re-emergence of the upside pressure in US yields.

Gold News

XRP tests support at $0.50 as Ripple joins alliance to work on blockchain recovery

XRP tests support at $0.50 as Ripple joins alliance to work on blockchain recovery

XRP trades around $0.5174 early on Friday, wiping out gains from earlier in the week, as Ripple announced it has joined an alliance to support digital asset recovery alongside Hedera and the Algorand Foundation. 

Read more

Week ahead – US inflation numbers to shake Fed rate cut bets

Week ahead – US inflation numbers to shake Fed rate cut bets

Fed rate-cut speculators rest hopes on US inflation data. After dovish BoE, pound traders turn to UK job numbers. Will a strong labor market convince the RBA to hike? More Chinese data on tap amid signs of slow Q2 start.

Read more

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures