* Canadian dollar at C$1.3021 or 76.80 U.S. cents
* Bond prices mixed across the maturity curve
By Solarina Ho
TORONTO, July 23 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar was firmer
against its U.S. counterpart on Thursday after
stronger-than-expected Canadian retail sales data, but it was
off its highs as the greenback drew strength from a surprisingly
steep fall in weekly U.S. jobless claims.
The Canadian dollar was bouncing off a sharp drop on
Wednesday that had brought it just shy of C$1.3066, its weakest
level since March 2009.
Canadian retail sales climbed by a higher-than-expected 1.0
percent in May from April, pushed up by sales of new cars,
gasoline, electronics and appliances. Economists polled by
Reuters had forecast a rise of 0.5 percent. ECONCA
ID:nL1N10316S
The U.S. claims data, the lowest since 1973, was the latest
indicator that the U.S. economy may be ready for an interest
rate hike by the Federal Reserve. ECONUS ID:nL1N10227W
* At 9:08 a.m. EDT (1308 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 ,
which was stronger against most of its counterparts, was at
C$1.3021 to the greenback, or 76.80 U.S. cents, firmer than the
Bank of Canada's official close of C$1.3037, or 76.70 U.S.
cents, on Wednesday. That was the currency's weakest finish in
more than a decade, but still off intraday lows hit in 2009.
* The currency traded between C$1.2946 and C$1.3047 on
Thursday morning.
* There is no major economic data for Canada until next
Tuesday. The biggest market driver in the week ahead will be the
U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision due on
Wednesday.
* Canadian government bond prices were mixed across the
maturity curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR price flat to yield
0.431 percent and the benchmark 10-year CA10YT=RR rising 1
Canadian cent to yield 1.538 percent.
* The Canada-U.S. two-year bond spread was -29.6 basis
points, while the 10-year spread was -80.0 basis points.