USD/CAD slides below 1.3600 amid rebounding Oil prices, weaker USD ahead of US CPI

USD/CAD retreats from a multi-week top and is weighed down by a combination of factors.
Rebounding Oil prices underpin the Loonie and exert pressure amid renewed USD selling.
The downside seems limited as traders keenly await the release of the crucial US CPI report.

Haresh Menghani FXStreet

The USD/CAD pair struggles to capitalize on the overnight breakout momentum through the very important 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) and retreats from a nearly three-week top, around the 1.3615 area touched earlier this Wednesday. Spot prices extend the steady intraday descent through the first half of the European session and drop to the 1.3590-1.3585 region, or a fresh daily low in the last hour.

Crude Oil prices rallied around 1.75% and moved away from the lowest level since May 2023 touched on Tuesday amid concerns about supply disruption in the wake of Hurricane Francine in the United States (US). This is seen underpinning the commodity-linked Loonie, which, along with the emergence of fresh US Dollar (USD) selling, turn out to be key factors exerting downward pressure on the USD/CAD pair.

That said, hopes for additional interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada (BoC), bolstered by Friday's disappointing Canadian jobs data, should keep a lid on any meaningful appreciating move for the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Apart from this, reduced bets for a larger interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed), along with a softer risk tone, could offer support to the safe-haven buck and limit losses for the USD/CAD pair.

Traders also seem reluctant and might prefer to wait for the release of the crucial US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report before placing fresh directional bets. Hence, it will be prudent to wait for strong follow-through selling before confirming that the USD/CAD pair's recent recovery from the 1.3440 region, or a multi-month low touched in August has run its course and positioning for a further depreciating move.

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.

Markets move fast. We move first.

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

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD holds around 1.1750 after weak German and EU PMI data

EUR/USD maintains its range trade at around 1.1750 in European trading on Tuesday. Weaker-than-expected December PMI data from Germany and the Eurozone make it difficult for the Euro to find demand, while investors refrain from taking large USD positions ahead of key employment data.

GBP/USD climbs above 1.3400 after upbeat UK PMI data

GBP/USD gains traction and trades in positive territory above 1.3400 on Tuesday as the British Pound benefits from upbeat PMI data. Later in the day, crucial data releases from the US, including Nonfarm Payrolls, Retail Sales and PMI, could trigger the next big action in the pair.

Gold retreats from seven week highs on profit-taking; all eyes on US NFP release

Gold price loses momentum below $4,300 during the early European trading hours on Tuesday, pressured by some profit-taking and weak long liquidation from the shorter-term futures traders. Furthermore, optimism around Ukraine peace talks could weigh on the safe-haven asset like Gold.

US Nonfarm Payrolls expected to point to cooling labor market in November

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the delayed Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for October and November on Tuesday at 13:30 GMT. Economists expect Nonfarm Payrolls to rise by 40,000 in November. The Unemployment Rate is likely to remain unchanged at 4.4% during the same period.

NFP preview: Complex data release will determine if Fed was right to cut rates

The long wait is over, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US will release nonfarm payrolls reports for both November and October at 1330 GMT on Tuesday. The overall NFP figure for October is expected to be -10k, however, it is expected to be influenced by a massive 130k drop in federal department workers.

BNB Price Forecast: BNB slips below $855 as bearish on-chain signals and momentum indicators turn negative

BNB, formerly known as Binance Coin, continues to trade down around $855 at the time of writing on Tuesday, after a slight decline the previous day. Bearish sentiment further strengthens as BNB’s on-chain and derivatives data show rising retail activity.