USD/CAD - Canadian dollar stops nasty slideThe Canadian dollar has steadied on Thursday. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3728, down 0.12%.
The Canadian currency has stabilized after a nasty four-day slide, in which it declined 1.9%. The US dollar continues to look strong against the majors, as "US exceptionalism" continues to make the greenback attractive to investors.
The Canadian dollar is also getting squeezed by falling oil prices, as oil is a major export for Canada. Crude oil prices slid around $5 on Wednesday, its biggest daily drop in over a year, and fell further on Thursday before recovering. The rise in bond yields, which have raised fears of a global economic slowdown are weighing on investor sentiment towards oil.
On the economic calendar, the Canada Ivey PMI eased slightly in September to 53.1, down from 53.5 in August, but easily beat the market consensus of 50.8. The PMI has indicated expansion in economic activity in eight out of the past nine readings. As well, the job creation component rose from 58.5 to 54.8 in August, marking a six-month high.
These are encouraging figures for the Canadian economy, which has run into some headwinds, such as a flatlined GDP in August. Canada's economy contracted in the second quarter, and a repeat in Q3 would indicate a technical recession.
The Canadian dollar could show some volatility on Friday, with the US and Canada both releasing employment reports for September. Canada is expected to have added 20,000 jobs in September, which would be half of the gain in August of 39,900. The Bank of Canada will be keeping a close eye on wage growth, which is projected to rise to 5.5% y/y, compared to 5.2% in August.
All eyes will be on the US nonfarm payrolls, which is showing signs of cracks, with three straight releases below the 200,000 mark. The August release came in at 187,000 and the consensus estimate for September stands at 170,000. Wage growth is expected to tick up to 0.3%, compared to 0.2% in August. An unexpected reading in the NFP or wage growth reports could have a significant effect on the US dollar on Friday.
USD/CAD faces resistance at 1.3806 and 1.3864
1.3695 and 1.3638 are the next support lines
Iveypmi
Canadian dollar eyes Ivey PMIThe Canadian dollar is coming off a relatively quiet week but that could change as there a host of key releases this week. Ivey PMI kicks things off later today, followed by the Bank of Canada rate decision on Wednesday and the February employment report on Friday.
Canada's Ivey PMI recorded a massive rebound in January, climbing from 33.4 all the way to 60.1 points. A reading above 50.0 points to expansion. The reading is expected to remain strong in February, with an estimate of 57.7 points.
Canada's economy ended 2022 in an unimpressive fashion, posting a growth rate of 0.0% y/y in the fourth quarter, compared to 2.3% in Q3. This was much lower than the market estimate of 1.5% and the Bank of Canada's projection of 1.3%. On a monthly basis, December GDP contracted by 0.1%, down from 0.0% in November and below the estimate of 0.0%.
The Bank of Canada meets on Tuesday and is widely expected to hold rates at 4.50%. A non-move would be significant, as the BoC hasn't taken a pause since the current rate-tightening cycle began in January 2023. Governor Macklem has signalled to the markets that he wants to take a pause in tightening, and the weak GDP report will support the BoC easing off the rate pedal as the economy shows signs of slowing. The steep hike in rates has pushed inflation lower, as it fell to 5.9% in January, down from 6.3% a month earlier.
What will the BoC do after tomorrow's rate decision? The BoC would love to pause rates throughout the year, but Macklem has made clear that a pause is dependent on supportive data. There is also the complication that the Federal Reserve is likely to continue hiking several more times this year, and the BoC does not want to fall too far out of sync with rate levels in the US.
In the US, this week's key events are Fed Chair Powell's semi-annual testimony before Congress and the nonfarm payroll report, both of which could move the US dollar. If Powell provides any hints about further rate hikes, the US dollar could respond with gains.
Nonfarm payrolls was red-hot in January with 517,000 new jobs, but this is expected to be a one-time bump, with the estimate for February standing at 200,000. The surprisingly resilient labour market has the Fed concerned about wage pressures, and a strong wage growth release could raise market expectations of higher rates.
1.3701 and 1.3784 are the next resistance lines
1.3571 is a weak support line, followed by 1.3478
USD/CAD eyes Canada, US job reportsThe Canadian dollar has edged lower on Friday. In the European session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3620, up 0.36%. The first week of the new year has been busy. The Canadian dollar sparkled on Wednesday and climbed 1.4%, but has since pared most of those gains.
Canada and the US will wrap up the week with the December employment reports, which could mean some volatility in the North American session. Canada's job creation in recent months has not impressed, with the exception of a massive gain of 108,300 in October. This was followed by a marginal gain of 10,100 in November, and December is expected to be even smaller, with an estimate of 8,000. The unemployment rate is forecast to inch higher to 5.2%, up from 5.1%. Canada also releases Ivey PMI, which has been stagnant over the past two months, just above the 50.0 threshold which separates contraction from expansion. The PMI is projected to drop to 51.0 for December, down from 51.4 in November.
In the US, the focus will be on nonfarm payrolls and wage growth. Unemployment claims and other employment indicators show that the labour market remains resilient and there is a strong demand for workers despite a slowing economy. The ADP employment report, although not considered a reliable precursor to NFP, jumped to 235,000 in December, crushing the previous reading of 127,000 and the estimate of 150,000. The markets expect NFP to move in the opposite direction, with an estimate of 200,000, down from 263,000 in November.
A soft NFP release would be an indication that the labour market may finally be weakening. For the Fed, this would be good news, as it believes that the labor market must soften in order for inflation to fall. For the markets, always hoping for a dovish pivot, a weak NFP would likely raise speculation that the Fed may be close to winding up its current tightening cycle, and this could translate into the US dollar losing ground.
USD/CAD is putting pressure on resistance at 1.3628. Above, there is resistance at 1.3709
There is support at 1.3546 and 1.3476
USD/CAD eyes Canada, US job reportsIt's a busy day in both Canada and the US, with both countries releasing July employment reports. It wasn't so long ago that US nonfarm payrolls was eagerly anticipated and was the most important event of the week. The NFP often had a significant impact on the movement of the US dollar. That has changed in the new economic landscape of red-hot inflation and central banks raising interest rates practically every month. The NFP has been overshadowed as the media breathlessly reports new inflation records and the threat of a recession. Still, the NFP remains an important indicator and a surprise reading can still shake up the markets.
The July NFP is expected at 250 thousand, following a surprisingly strong June release of 372 thousand. A weak reading will raise concerns about a recession, which would likely see US yields and the US dollar fall. Conversely, a stronger than expected number would probably boost yields and the US dollar, as a stronger labour market would allow the Fed to remain hawkish regarding rate policy.
The markets have priced in an inflation peak and the Fed winding up its rate-tightening cycle, which has sent the US dollar on a hasty retreat. Fed policy makers have been pushing back, sending out the message this week that there are more large hikes on the way as inflation is not yet under control. A strong NFP reading would reinforce the Fed's message and provide some support for the US dollar.
Canada will also publish employment data later today. The economy is expected to have created 20.0 thousand jobs in July, after a decline of 43.2 thousand in May. A stronger-than-expected reading should boost the Canadian dollar, while an underperformance could result in the currency losing ground. As well, Canada releases Ivey PMI. The indicator slumped to 62.2 in June, down from 72.0, and is expected to slow to 60.3. A surprise reading could have an impact on the direction of USD/CAD in the North American session.
USD/CAD is putting pressure on 1.2899. Above, there is resistance at 1.3002
USD/CAD has support at 1.2741 and 1.2686