(Adds strategist quotes and details throughout, updates prices)
* Canadian dollar gains 0.4% against the greenback
* Loonie touches its strongest since April 2018 at 1.2625
* Price of U.S. oil settles 1.3% higher
* Canadian bond yields rise across a steeper curve
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar climbed to a near three-year high against its U.S. counterpart on Thursday, bolstered by higher oil prices and the strengthening of currencies that benefit from rising demand for goods exports.
The loonie CAD= was trading 0.4% higher at 1.2638 to the greenback, or 79.13 U.S. cents. It touched its strongest since April 2018 at 1.2625.
Export-oriented economies, such as those in Asia, "that are goods-intensive have tended to see their currencies outperform," said Mazen Issa, a senior FX strategist at TD Securities. "CAD is getting pulled along for the ride."
Analysts expect vaccine rollouts and a rebound in exports to lead the recovery for trade-reliant Asian economies in 2021. On Wednesday, the Taiwan dollar TWD=TP notched a 23-1/2-year high at 27.938. on Thursday showed Chinese exports growing more than expected in December. is a major producer of commodities, including oil, so the loonie tends to be sensitive to the global economic outlook.
U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 settled 1.3% higher at $53.57 a barrel, as bullish signals from Chinese import data offset surging coronavirus cases in Europe and new lockdowns in China. Street closed lower as hopes for fresh fiscal stimulus ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's pandemic aid proposal were pitted against a weakening labor market. home sales data for December is due on Friday, while the Bank of Canada is due to make an interest rate decision next week.
Canadian government bond yields rose across a steeper curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year CA10YT=RR was up 4.8 basis points at 0.857%, having touched on Tuesday its highest in nearly 10 months at 0.887%.