(Adds strategist quote and details throughout; updates prices)
* Canadian dollar weakens 0.3% against the greenback
* Loonie touches a seven-week low at 1.3210
* Price of U.S. oil decreases 0.3%
* Canadian bond yields fall across a flatter yield curve
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened to a seven-week low against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday as concern that the coronavirus outbreak would hurt global economic growth weighed on the price of oil and commodity-linked currencies.
At 3:31 p.m. (2031 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading 0.3% lower at 1.3196 to the greenback, or 75.78 U.S. cents. The currency touched its weakest intraday level since Dec. 11 at 1.3210.
"Coronavirus fears that had flared up yesterday morning and had faded out by yesterday afternoon, had returned overnight to pummel the economically-sensitive currencies in the commodity block and in the emerging markets," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Cambridge Global Payments.
Canada is a major exporter of commodities, including oil, so the loonie tends to be sensitive to prospects for the global economy. Among G10 currencies, only the Norwegian crown NOK= , which is also linked to oil prices, fared worse.
U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 settled 0.3% lower at $53.33 a barrel, pressured by the potential for lower demand and swelling U.S. crude inventories. week, the Bank of Canada opened the door to a future interest rate cut should a recent slowdown in domestic growth persist. Canada's gross domestic product data for November is due on Friday. U.S. dollar .DXY gained ground against a basket of major currencies as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its first policy meeting of the year, with officials pointing to continued moderate U.S. economic growth and a "strong" job market. President Donald Trump signed a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada. Canada sends about 75% of its exports to the United States. government bond yields fell across a flatter yield curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year yield, which on Tuesday hit a near four-month low intraday at 1.283%, was down 6.8 basis points at 1.307%.