- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 16,743
TORONTO (Reuters) - A steadier tone on equity markets and an unexpectedly strong rise in Canadian housing starts in March helped lift the Canadian dollar against the greenback on Wednesday.
Housing starts rose 13.7 percent in March -- snapping a six-month losing streak -- to a seasonally adjusted rate of 154,700 units. That beat the consensus expectations of analysts for 130,000 starts.
"It was better than expected, it did not deteriorate further, it adds to the growing body of evidence that the Canadian economy actually did OK in March," Doug Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said of the data.
"I think it has raised some hopes that perhaps even the employment number tomorrow may not be quite as bad as initially advertised."
The week`s key piece of economic data comes on Thursday with Canada`s March jobs figures.
The Canadian economy is expected to have shed 55,000 jobs in March following a loss of 82,600 jobs in February. A loss of that magnitude would further support the widespread view that the economy contracted sharply in the first quarter of 2009.
Also supporting the Canadian dollar on Wednesday were steadier equity markets.
"(Steadier equities) imply lower levels of risk aversion. That tends to be another positive factor for the Canadian dollar," said George Davis, chief technical strategist RBC Capital Markets.
At 9:49 a.m. (1349 GMT), the currency was at C$1.2327 to the U.S. dollar, or 81.12 U.S. cents, up from C$1.2378 to the U.S. dollar, or 80.78 U.S. cents at Tuesday`s close.
BOND PRICES MOSTLY HIGHER
Canadian government bond prices were mostly higher, tracking U.S. Treasuries, as concern that corporate earnings will be poor in the current reporting season fueled demand for safer government bonds.
U.S. government bonds rose on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve`s next round of Treasuries buying later in the day, which eased supply concerns.
"It`s just largely tracking what we`re seeing in Treasuries," Porter said.
The two-year Canada bond was up 2 Canadian cents at C$100.29 to yield 1.114 percent, while the 10-year bond sagged 3 Canadian cents to C$106.97 to yield 2.948 percent.
The 30-year bond was higher by 20 Canadian cents at C$123.45 to yield 3.658 percent. In the United States, the 30-year Treasury yielded 3.6934 percent.
(Reporting by Jennifer Kwan; editing by Peter Galloway)
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090408/...da_dollar_bonds
Housing starts rose 13.7 percent in March -- snapping a six-month losing streak -- to a seasonally adjusted rate of 154,700 units. That beat the consensus expectations of analysts for 130,000 starts.
"It was better than expected, it did not deteriorate further, it adds to the growing body of evidence that the Canadian economy actually did OK in March," Doug Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said of the data.
"I think it has raised some hopes that perhaps even the employment number tomorrow may not be quite as bad as initially advertised."
The week`s key piece of economic data comes on Thursday with Canada`s March jobs figures.
The Canadian economy is expected to have shed 55,000 jobs in March following a loss of 82,600 jobs in February. A loss of that magnitude would further support the widespread view that the economy contracted sharply in the first quarter of 2009.
Also supporting the Canadian dollar on Wednesday were steadier equity markets.
"(Steadier equities) imply lower levels of risk aversion. That tends to be another positive factor for the Canadian dollar," said George Davis, chief technical strategist RBC Capital Markets.
At 9:49 a.m. (1349 GMT), the currency was at C$1.2327 to the U.S. dollar, or 81.12 U.S. cents, up from C$1.2378 to the U.S. dollar, or 80.78 U.S. cents at Tuesday`s close.
BOND PRICES MOSTLY HIGHER
Canadian government bond prices were mostly higher, tracking U.S. Treasuries, as concern that corporate earnings will be poor in the current reporting season fueled demand for safer government bonds.
U.S. government bonds rose on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve`s next round of Treasuries buying later in the day, which eased supply concerns.
"It`s just largely tracking what we`re seeing in Treasuries," Porter said.
The two-year Canada bond was up 2 Canadian cents at C$100.29 to yield 1.114 percent, while the 10-year bond sagged 3 Canadian cents to C$106.97 to yield 2.948 percent.
The 30-year bond was higher by 20 Canadian cents at C$123.45 to yield 3.658 percent. In the United States, the 30-year Treasury yielded 3.6934 percent.
(Reporting by Jennifer Kwan; editing by Peter Galloway)
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090408/...da_dollar_bonds