Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

USD/CAD: Canadian Dollar Edges Lower On Soft Canadian Job Numbers, Superb NFP

Published 2018-11-02, 10:03 a/m
Updated 2023-07-09, 06:31 a/m

The Canadian dollar has edged lower in the Friday session. Currently, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3098, up 0.07% on the day. On the release front, Canadian employment change slowed to 11,200, short of the estimate of 12,700. However, the unemployment rate ticked lower to 5.8%, just below the estimate of 5.9%. Over in the U.S., nonfarm payrolls rocketed to 250,000, crushing the estimate of 194,000. This marked the second highest gain in 2018. Wage growth eased to 0.2%, matching the forecast, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7%.

Asian equity markets posted strong gains on Friday, buoyed by a report that U.S. President Donald Trump is working on a trade agreement with China, which he will present to Chinese President Xi Jinping at a Group of 20 summit in Argentina later this month. If the two economic giants are able to reach an agreement, the result would be a boon for global trade. The Canadian economy is heavily reliant on its export sector, so a stronger global economy would be good news for the Canadian dollar.

The Canadian economy grew 0.1% in August, marking a seventh straight month of expansion. Higher oil production in Alberta and higher oil prices fuelled the modest gain. The economy has been performing well and remains on track for annualized growth of 2% in 2018. Unemployment is at low levels and is expected to remain pegged at 5.9% for October. The Bank of Canada raised rates last week to 1.75%, and the hawkish message from the bank was a broad hint to the markets that further rate hikes are in store. With the economy operating close to full capacity, rate hikes are an effective method of ensuring that the economy does not overheat. The BoC is also mindful that the Federal Reserve is expected to raise rates again in December, which would mark a fourth rate hike in 2018. Policy-makers do not want to see divergence widen between U.S. and Canadian rates, and another rate hike from the BoC would be bullish for the Canadian dollar.

USD/CAD for Friday, November 2, 2018

USD/CAD for Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2018.

USD/CAD, November 2 at 8:50 DST

Open: 1.3086 High: 1.3101 Low: 1.3049 Close: 1.3098

USD/CAD Technical

S3 S2 S1 R1 R2 R3
1.2733 12831 1.2970 1.3099 1.3198 1.3292

USD/CAD showed little movement in the Asian session. This pair has edged lower in European trade

  • 1.2970 is providing support
  • 1.3099 is under pressure in resistance and could break during the North American session
  • Current range: 1.2970 to 1.3099

Further levels in both directions:

  • Below: 1.2970, 1.2831 and 1.2733
  • Above: 1.3099, 1.3198, 1.3292 and 1.3383

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.