The Canadian dollar rose against its U.S. counterpart on Monday, notching its biggest gain since the start of the year, as investors bet that global central banks would try to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
At 2:58 p.m. (1958 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading 0.4 per cent higher at 1.3353 to the greenback, or 74.89 U.S. cents, its biggest gain since Dec. 31 last year. The currency, which on Friday hit its weakest intraday level in nearly nine months at 1.3465, traded in a range of 1.3315 to 1.3445.
The loonie is rallying for the same reason as equity markets, said Phil Mesman, head of fixed income at Picton Mahoney Asset Management.
“The markets are pricing in (coordinated) central bank intervention,” Mesman said.
U.S. stocks and the price of oil, one of Canada’s major exports, climbed on hopes of central bank stimulus and of a deeper cut in output by OPEC. U.S. crude oil futures settled 4.5 per cent higher at $46.75 a barrel.
Canadian manufacturing activity expanded in February at the quickest pace in a year, data showed, which could provide some reassurance to the Bank of Canada on the outlook for the economy ahead of an interest rate decision on Wednesday.
Investors are betting that the central bank will cut rates for the first time in nearly five years.
Canadian government bond yields fell across the yield curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year yield was down 8.9 basis points at 1.034 per cent. It touched its lowest intraday level since October 2016 at 1.027 per cent.
Canadian authorities reached a tentative deal on Sunday with an indigenous group in the Pacific Coast province of British Columbia that could end solidarity protests across Canada that have been blocking rail lines and roads for weeks.
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