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CANADA FX DEBT-C$ weakens as economy stalls, denting rate hike prospects

Published 2017-09-29, 09:48 a/m
© Reuters.  CANADA FX DEBT-C$ weakens as economy stalls, denting rate hike prospects
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* Canadian dollar at C$1.2458, or 80.27 U.S. cents

* Data shows no growth in Canada's July GDP

* Bond prices higher across the yield curve

* Canada-U.S. 2-year spread narrows by 4.7 basis points

By Fergal Smith

TORONTO, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened against its U.S. counterpart on Friday after domestic data showed the economy stalled in July, further dampening prospects of a another interest rate hike by the Bank of Canada next month.

Canada's economy was unchanged in July following eight consecutive months of growth, including a 0.3 percent increase in June, Statistics Canada said.

"This report is consistent with the widely expected moderation in growth during the second half of this year," said Ryan Brecht, a senior economist at Action Economics.

The Bank of Canada raised rates in July and September after the country's growth accelerated in the first half of the year.

But chances of another increase next month edged lower after Friday's data, to around 20 percent, the overnight index swaps market indicated. They were 40 percent before a speech on Wednesday by Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz that analysts said was dovish. BOCWATCH

Both Poloz and Deputy Governor Tim Lane have helped talk down the Canadian dollar in recent weeks after the currency's strength put growth at risk. 9:14 a.m. EDT (1314 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was down 0.3 percent at C$1.2458 to the greenback, or 80.27 U.S. cents.

The currency traded in a range of C$1.2417 to C$1.2480. On Thursday it touched a four-week low at C$1.2519.

Losses for the loonie came even as the U.S. dollar .DXY dipped against a basket of major currencies, pressured by data showing almost no increase in U.S. consumer spending for August. price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, edged lower despite tensions around Iraqi Kurdistan that threatened the region's crude supplies. crude CLc1 was down 0.23 percent at $51.44 a barrel.

Canadian government bond prices were higher across the yield curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR up 8.5 Canadian cents to yield 1.495 percent and the 10-year CA10YT=RR rising 39 Canadian cents to yield 2.083 percent.

The gap between the two-year yield and its U.S. equivalent narrowed by 4.7 basis points to a spread of 4 basis points. Earlier this month the spread reached its widest since January 2015 at 24.8 basis points.

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