The Canadian dollar has edged lower on Tuesday. Currently, USD/CAD is trading at 1.2870, down 0.73% on the day. On the release front, there are no major U.S. indicators. Canada will release Ivey PMI. On Wednesday, the U.S. releases ADP nonfarm payrolls. Canada publishes trade balance and the Bank of Canada will set the benchmark rate.
The Canadian government is seeing red after U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose stiff tariffs on Canadian steel imports. Canada is the top exporter of steel to the U.S., accounting for some 16% of U.S. steel imports. The “tariff tussle” could prove to be a major irritant in U.S.-Canada relations, and has weakened the Canadian dollar, as USD/CAD broke above the 1.30 line on Monday, for the first time since late June. Trump is facing strong opposition to the move from Republican law-makers, and has held our a carrot to Mexico and Canada – if a new NAFTA deal is reached, both countries would be exempted from the tariffs. Canada’s steel industry is a crucial backbone of the economy, and if the U.S. does slap on the tariffs, it could ignite a trade war with Canada and other U.S. trading partners.
Canada’s economy slowed down in January, as GDP posted a weak gain of 0.1%, matching the estimate. On an annualized basis, growth in the fourth quarter was 1.7%, considerably lower than the Bank of Canada’s most recent projection of 2.5%. With the Fed expected to raise rates up to four times in 2018, the BoC will be pressed to match rate hikes with its southern neighbor, or risk having the Canadian currency head lower. Currently, the BoC is projecting only two rate hikes in 2018. Strong growth has propelled the BoC to raise rates three times since July, but there are some factors weighing against a rate hike before May. First, fourth quarter expansion may fall short of the BoC’s forecast of 2.5%. As well, the future of NAFTA remains unclear, as negotiations between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have floundered. If the U.S. decides to pull out of NAFTA, the repercussions on the Canadian economy could be significant, and the BoC will have to delay any plans to raise rates.
Canada and Mexico Dismiss Trump Tariff Exemption Offer
USD/CAD Fundamentals
Tuesday (March 6)
- 10:00 Canadian Ivey PMI. Estimate 56.3
- 10:00 US Factory Orders. Estimate -0.4%
- Tentative – IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism. Estimate 58.2
- 17:30 US FOMC Member Lael Brainard Speaks
Wednesday (March 7)
- 8:15 US ADP Nonfarm Employment Change. Estimate 194K
- 8:30 Canadian Trade Balance
- 10:00 BoC Rate Statement
- 10:00 Canadian Overnight Rate
*All release times are GMT
*Key events are in bold
USD/CAD for Tuesday, March 6, 2018
USD/CAD, March 6 at 8:05 EST
Open: 1.2964 High: 1.2995 Low: 1.2862 Close: 1.2870
USD/CAD Technical
| S3 | S2 | S1 | R1 | R2 | R3 |
| 1.2630 | 1.2757 | 1.2865 | 1.2920 | 1.3014 | 1.3165 |
USD/CAD was flat in the Asian session and has posted considerable losses in European trade
- 1.2865 is providing support
- 1.2920 is the next resistance line
- Current range: 1.2865 to 1.2920
Further levels in both directions:
- Below: 1.2865, 1.2757 and 1.2630
- Above: 1.2920, 1.3014, 1.3165 and 1.3270
OANDA’s Open Positions Ratio
USD/CAD ratio is showing gains in long positions. Currently, short positions still have a majority (61%), indicative of trader bias towards USD/CAD continuing to move lower.
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