* Canadian dollar falls 0.4% against the greenback
* BoC survey shows business sentiment turning negative
* Canadian home sales increase 0.9% month-over-month in March
* Price of U.S. oil falls 0.8%
* Canadian government bond prices rise across yield curve
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, April 15 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened against its U.S. counterpart on Monday, as domestic data showing softer business sentiment triggered increased bets on a Bank of Canada interest rate cut this year.
Canada's weak energy sector, a housing slowdown and global trade tensions are weighing on business sentiment, which has turned slightly negative, according to a Bank of Canada quarterly survey. weaker survey "strongly suggests the BoC will be on hold through the rest of this year, though the risks are tilted toward a cut, should a negative shock hit," Benjamin Reitzes, Canadian rates & macro strategist at BMO Capital Markets, said in a note.
Chances of a rate cut by December doubled to about 40% after the data, the overnight index swaps market indicated. BOCWATCH
Adding to headwinds for the loonie, the price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, fell after Russia's finance minister said Russia and OPEC may decide to boost production to fight for market share with the United States, where output remains at record highs. crude oil futures CLc1 settled 0.8% lower at $63.40 a barrel.
At 3:44 p.m. (1944 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading 0.4% lower at 1.3372 to the greenback, or 74.78 U.S. cents. The currency, which rose 0.5% last week, traded in a range of 1.3298 to 1.3390.
Canadian home sales rose 0.9% month-over-month in March, edging higher after a sharp drop in the previous month, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Monday. government bond prices were higher across the yield curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR up 6.5 Canadian cents to yield 1.603% and the 10-year CA10YT=RR rising 28 Canadian cents to yield 1.750%.
The gap between Canada's two-year yield and its U.S. equivalent widened by 2.6 basis points to a spread of 78.6 basis points in favor of the U.S. bond.