Canadian Dollar gains ground amid hopes of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

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USD/CAD weakens to near 1.3805 in Monday’s early European session.
The US Secretary of State said, "Either reach a good deal with Iran or handle it differently."
Cooling domestic inflation and economic weakness in Canada might cap the Canadian Dollar’s upside.

The USD/CAD pair edges lower to around 1.3805 during the early European session on Monday. The US Dollar (USD) softens against the Canadian Dollar (CAD) after US officials signal progress on a peace deal with Iran. Trading volumes are expected to be light due to a market closure for Memorial Day in the US.

Reuters reported on Monday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US will give diplomacy every chance on Iran but will pursue other means if a good deal cannot be reached while describing the current framework as solid. Rubio stated that a deal to end the war with Iran is still possible on Monday.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said that Washington and Iran had "largely negotiated" a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz.

Although global oil prices remain elevated, the commodity-linked Loonie failed to capitalize. Concerns over underlying domestic economic growth could offset typical commodity-driven tailwinds.

Traders brace for the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index report on Thursday for fresh impetus. In case of hotter-than-projected outcomes, this could underpin the Greenback against the CAD in the near term.

Canadian Dollar FAQs

What key factors drive the Canadian Dollar?

The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar.

How do the decisions of the Bank of Canada impact the Canadian Dollar?

The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive.

How does the price of Oil impact the Canadian Dollar?

The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD.

How does inflation data impact the value of the Canadian Dollar?

While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar.

How does economic data influence the value of the Canadian Dollar?

Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.