* C$ ends slightly higher at 96.85 U.S. cents
* Bonds sag as world recovery hopes rise (Adds details)
By Ka Yan Ng
TORONTO, June 14 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar backed off a four-week high but finished firmer against the U.S. currency on Monday, aided by stronger energy prices.
Early support took the currency to C$1.0225 to the U.S. dollar, or 97.80 U.S. cents, a high last reached on May 14, as oil prices rose to just shy of $76 a barrel, while natural gas soared more than 5 percent. [O/R]
"The Canadian dollar continues to trade with some beneficial influence off the back of stronger energy pricing, particularly natural gas," said Jack Spitz, managing director of foreign exchange at National Bank Financial.
The currency pared gains halfway through the session, along with the euro, after Moody's cut Greece's credit rating to junk status and said the country faced substantial risks. The downgrade had been anticipated by market players, and that cushioned the euro's retreat. [ID:nWNA3381].
"All things being equal, the euro's ability to sustain news like this actually speaks quite well and could contribute to more euro gains," Spitz said. "That in itself could contribute to better offers in dollar/Canada."
The Canadian dollar finished at C$1.0325 to the U.S. dollar, or 96.85 U.S. cents, up from C$1.0338 to the U.S. dollar, or 96.73 U.S. cents, at Friday's close.
Some strong data has underscored recent optimism about the world economic recovery: Euro zone industrial output in April surged year-on-year more than in any month in almost two decades, figures on Monday showed, while Chinese export data last week signaled robust global demand. [ID:nLDE65D0YC]
Positive sentiment also flowed from comments by St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard, who said the global recovery under way was unlikely to be thrown off course by events in Europe or by the unlikely bursting of an asset bubble in China. [ID:nTOE65D04O]
BONDS FALL HARD
Canadian bond prices fell as dimming worries about the world's economic health pushed investors out of safe haven assets such as government debt.
"There's been no new bad news," said Sheldon Dong, fixed income analyst at TD Waterhouse Private Investment. "That's why the risk-on trade is coming back on."
Greece's downgrade, although expected by market players, was felt most in equity markets, which sold off from session highs. Toronto's main index finished little changed. [.TO]
The two-year government bond
Canadian bonds underperformed U.S. issues across most of the yield curve. The 10-year Canadian yield was 17.1 basis points above its U.S. counterpart, down from about 17.6 basis points on Friday. (Reporting by Ka Yan Ng; editing by Peter Galloway)