* Canadian dollar at C$1.2702, or 78.73 U.S. cents
* U.S. crude oil reaches $58 for first time since July 2015
* Bond prices rise across the yield curve
* Canada-U.S. 2-year spread narrows by 3.8 basis points
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened to a nine-day high against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday as oil prices climbed and minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting weighed on the greenback.
The U.S. dollar .DXY fell against a basket of major currencies after data showed new orders for U.S.-made capital goods unexpectedly fell in October, and the Fed's November meeting minutes showed policymakers may be starting to question a December interest rate increase. price of U.S. crude oil CLc1 reached $58 a barrel for the first time since July 2015 as the shutdown of one of the largest crude pipelines from Canada cut supply to the United States. is one of Canada's major exports.
"Everyone is looking at that key psychological level in crude, which is $60," said Blake Jespersen, managing director, foreign exchange sales at BMO Capital Markets. "And I think if we get there, USD-CAD is probably (going to trade) down through C$1.25."
Strong inflows of foreign money into Canadian stocks and bonds this year are adding to investor confidence that the rally since May in the country's currency is sustainable because it is not just supported by speculative flows. 4 p.m. ET (2100 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading at C$1.2702 to the greenback, or 78.73 U.S. cents, up 0.6 percent.
The currency touched its strongest since Nov. 13 at C$1.2697. Although activity was lighter than usual ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.
The loonie has been pressured recently by concern that an uncertain outlook for the North American Free Trade Agreement will stall Bank of Canada interest rate hikes.
The United States, Mexico and Canada failed to resolve any major differences in a fifth round of talks to rework the NAFTA trade deal, drawing a swift complaint from the Trump administration on Tuesday that the lack of progress could spell doom. government bond prices were higher across the yield curve on Wednesday, although they lagged the rally in U.S. Treasuries.
Canada's two-year CA2YT=RR rose 1.5 Canadian cents to yield 1.455 percent and the 10-year CA10YT=RR climbed 10 Canadian cents to yield 1.907 percent.
The gap between Canada's two-year yield and its U.S. equivalent narrowed by 3.8 basis points to a spread of -27.6 basis points.
Canadian retail sales data for September is due on Thursday.