Investing.com – The Canadian dollar closed the week at a nine-week high against its U.S. counterpart, as mounting fears over a potential U.S. sovereign debt default weighed on the greenback.
USD/CAD hit 0.9519 on Friday, the pair’s lowest since May 11; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.9531 by close of trade on Friday, shedding 0.85% over the week.
The pair is likely to find short-term support at 0.9512, the low of May 11 and resistance at 0.9623, Friday’s high.
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said late Thursday that the U.S. faced a 50% chance of a credit rating downgrade within the next 90 days, citing the political debate over raising the country’s USD14.3 trillion debt ceiling before the August 2 deadline.
The warning came a day after rival Moody's Investors Service said it put the U.S. government’s Aaa bond rating on review for possible downgrade due to a “small but rising risk” of a short-lived default.
Republicans in the House of Representatives said they would vote next week on a bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling as long as Congress adopts a balanced-budget amendment, an unlikely prospect.
Meanwhile, data on Friday showed that manufacturing activity in the New York-region unexpectedly contracted for a second month in July, while U.S. consumer sentiment in early July fell to its lowest since March 2009.
A separate report showed that U.S. industrial production rose less-than-expected in June.
The loonie was also boosted as crude oil for delivery in August rose for a third consecutive week, climbing to USD97.35 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, advancing 1.6% on the week.
Raw materials, including oil account for about half of Canada’s export revenue.
In the week ahead, the Bank of Canada is to announce its benchmark interest rate for July, while markets will be paying close attention to any developments in regards to the U.S. debt ceiling talks as well as a congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, July 18
Canada is to publish official data on foreign securities purchases as well as a report on new motor vehicle sales.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to publish a government report on the balance of domestic and foreign investments.
Tuesday, July 19
The Bank of Canada is to announce its overnight rate. The announcement will be followed by the bank’s rate statement, which discusses the economic outlook and offers clues on the outcome of interest future decisions.
Canada is also to publish an index of leading economic indicators, designed to predict the direction of the economy.
The U.S. is to publish government data on building permits, an excellent gauge of future construction activity, as well as a report on housing starts.
Wednesday, July 20
The BoC is to release its monetary policy report. The report will be followed up by a press conference to discuss the previous day’s interest rate decision. The country is also slated to release official data on wholesale sales, a leading indicator of consumer spending.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to publish an industry report on existing home sales, a leading indicator of economic health, as well as government data on crude oil inventories, which can be a big market mover for the Canadian dollar due to the size of Canada’s energy sector.
Thursday, July 21
The U.S. is to release a weekly government report on initial jobless claims, while the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is to produce a report on manufacturing activity, a leading indicator of economic health.
Also Thursday, Fed Chairman Bernanke is to testify on the Dodd Frank Act Anniversary, in Washington DC.
Friday, July 22
Canada is to round up the week with official data on consumer price inflation, which accounts for a majority of overall inflation as well as government data on retail sales, the primary gauge of consumer spending.
USD/CAD hit 0.9519 on Friday, the pair’s lowest since May 11; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.9531 by close of trade on Friday, shedding 0.85% over the week.
The pair is likely to find short-term support at 0.9512, the low of May 11 and resistance at 0.9623, Friday’s high.
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said late Thursday that the U.S. faced a 50% chance of a credit rating downgrade within the next 90 days, citing the political debate over raising the country’s USD14.3 trillion debt ceiling before the August 2 deadline.
The warning came a day after rival Moody's Investors Service said it put the U.S. government’s Aaa bond rating on review for possible downgrade due to a “small but rising risk” of a short-lived default.
Republicans in the House of Representatives said they would vote next week on a bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling as long as Congress adopts a balanced-budget amendment, an unlikely prospect.
Meanwhile, data on Friday showed that manufacturing activity in the New York-region unexpectedly contracted for a second month in July, while U.S. consumer sentiment in early July fell to its lowest since March 2009.
A separate report showed that U.S. industrial production rose less-than-expected in June.
The loonie was also boosted as crude oil for delivery in August rose for a third consecutive week, climbing to USD97.35 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, advancing 1.6% on the week.
Raw materials, including oil account for about half of Canada’s export revenue.
In the week ahead, the Bank of Canada is to announce its benchmark interest rate for July, while markets will be paying close attention to any developments in regards to the U.S. debt ceiling talks as well as a congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, July 18
Canada is to publish official data on foreign securities purchases as well as a report on new motor vehicle sales.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to publish a government report on the balance of domestic and foreign investments.
Tuesday, July 19
The Bank of Canada is to announce its overnight rate. The announcement will be followed by the bank’s rate statement, which discusses the economic outlook and offers clues on the outcome of interest future decisions.
Canada is also to publish an index of leading economic indicators, designed to predict the direction of the economy.
The U.S. is to publish government data on building permits, an excellent gauge of future construction activity, as well as a report on housing starts.
Wednesday, July 20
The BoC is to release its monetary policy report. The report will be followed up by a press conference to discuss the previous day’s interest rate decision. The country is also slated to release official data on wholesale sales, a leading indicator of consumer spending.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is to publish an industry report on existing home sales, a leading indicator of economic health, as well as government data on crude oil inventories, which can be a big market mover for the Canadian dollar due to the size of Canada’s energy sector.
Thursday, July 21
The U.S. is to release a weekly government report on initial jobless claims, while the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is to produce a report on manufacturing activity, a leading indicator of economic health.
Also Thursday, Fed Chairman Bernanke is to testify on the Dodd Frank Act Anniversary, in Washington DC.
Friday, July 22
Canada is to round up the week with official data on consumer price inflation, which accounts for a majority of overall inflation as well as government data on retail sales, the primary gauge of consumer spending.