|

USD/CAD: Spreads remain a headwind – Scotiabank

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is little changed against the USD, with spot holding close to 1.38 on the day. The CAD’s slide against the USD steadied through mid-week which was not unexpected, given the extended and sustained drop seen since the start of the month, Scotiabank’s Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes.

CAD holds little changed near 1.38

“USD/CAD gains looked stretched relative to our fair value estimate at the start of the week and while the CAD has been able to stabilize, headwinds remain significant—especially from the cash bond and swap spread perspective where the risk of a November hold decision from the Fed and a 50bps cut by the BoC next week has driven differentials wider.”

“The 2Y bond spread gap has widened to 95bps—the widest spread since the late 1990s. The CAD will struggle to rebound while rate spreads remain this significant. Spot’s peak Tuesday around the 1.3840 mark coincides with minor resistance denoted by the early April high.”

“Spot rebounded smartly Thursday but the drop in the USD from the early week peak has left a bearish print on the intraday and daily charts (‘shooting star’ signals) which may represent a near -term top for the USD, particularly with the latest run higher in the USD looking stretched on the charts. Support is likely to remain firm on minor dips to the low/mid 1.37s for now. Major support is 1.3645/50.”

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
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 moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

Gold retreats from record highs, trades below $4,500

Gold retreats after setting a new record-high above $4,520 earlier in the day and trades in a tight range below $4,500 as trading volumes thin out ahead of the Christmas break. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated on the back of dovish Fed expectations, which continues to act as a tailwind for the bullion amid persistent geopolitical risks.

Bitcoin slips below $87,000 as ETF outflows intensify, whale participation declines

Bitcoin price continues to trade around $86,770 on Wednesday, after failing to break above the $90,000 resistance. US-listed spot ETFs record an outflow of $188.64 million on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of withdrawals.

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.

Avalanche struggles near $12 as Grayscale files updated form for ETF

Avalanche trades close to $12 by press time on Wednesday, extending the nearly 2% drop from the previous day. Grayscale filed an updated form to convert its Avalanche-focused Trust into an ETF with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.