* Canadian dollar rises 0.1% against the greenback
* Canadian housing starts jump to 235,460 units in April
* Price of U.S. oil increases 0.2%
* Canada's 10-year yield hits a five-week low at 1.654%
TORONTO, May 8 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday but held to a narrow range, as oil prices increased and domestic housing starts rose sharply in April.
Canadian housing starts surged nearly 23 percent from March to 235,460 units as groundbreaking increased on multiple unit and single detached urban homes, data from the national housing agency showed. data could support the Bank of Canada's view that the housing market will recover after slowing since the start of 2018.
The price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, rose as persistent supply worries offset concerns about a deepening trade row between the United States and China. U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 were up 0.2% at $61.52 a barrel. 9:14 a.m. (1314 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading 0.1% higher at 1.3465 to the greenback, or 74.27 U.S. cents. The currency, which has declined nearly 3% since February, traded in a range of 1.3447 to 1.3486.
Canada's trade report for March is due on Thursday, while the April jobs report is due on Friday.
Canadian government bond prices were higher across the yield curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. The two-year CA2YT=RR rose 2.5 Canadian cents to yield 1.567% and the 10-year CA10YT=RR climbed 15 Canadian cents to yield 1.669%.
The 10-year yield touched its lowest since April 2 at 1.654%.