* Canadian dollar at C$1.2879, or 77.65 U.S. cents
* Loonie touches its strongest since April 23 at C$1.2803
* Bond prices lower across steeper yield curve
* 10-year yield touches 2-1/2-month high at 2.387 percent
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, May 2 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar fell against its broadly stronger U.S. counterpart on Wednesday, pulling back from an earlier nine-day high, as investors worried about global growth prospects and the Federal Reserve stayed on course to hike interest rates in June.
At 4 p.m. (2000 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading 0.2 percent lower at C$1.2879 to the greenback, or 77.65 U.S. cents.
The currency touched its strongest level since April 23 at C$1.2803, while its weakest was C$1.2889. It hit on Tuesday its weakest point in more than three weeks at C$1.2914.
"It is an extension of the position-squaring theme that we have seen play out," said Bipan Rai, North America head, FX strategy, at CIBC Capital Markets. "It seems to be this concern about global growth and whether or not it truly is synchronous."
Doubts about the strength of growth outside the United States have helped boost the U.S. dollar recently against a basket of major currencies.
The greenback climbed to its highest level in more than four months as the Fed held interest rates steady and expressed confidence that a recent rise in inflation to near the U.S. central bank's target would be sustained. still remains very much in play when it comes to the Fed," Rai said.
U.S. crude CLc1 prices settled 1 percent higher at $67.93 a barrel. Oil is one of Canada's major exports. government bond prices were lower across a steeper yield curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR down 1 Canadian cent to yield 1.935 percent and the 10-year CA10YT=RR falling 19 Canadian cents to yield 2.363 percent.
The 10-year yield touched its highest intraday since Feb. 15 at 2.387 percent.
Canada's trade data for March is due on Thursday.