* C$ weakens to C$0.9631 per US$, or $1.0383
* Bond prices mostly firm
* Bank of Canada hold rates at 1 percent (Updates with details, comments)
By Solarina Ho
TORONTO, April 12 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar retreated from 3-1/2 year highs on Tuesday as a basket of factors -- including concerns from the Bank of Canada over the "persistent strength" of the currency, as well as slumping oil and equities -- pressured the commodities-linked currency.
The central bank, which held interest rates steady at 1 percent as expected, cautioned that the soaring Canadian dollar -- which has been near highs not seen since November 2007 -- could create "even greater headwinds for the Canadian economy."
"Equities were off, oil was off, a lot of the risk currencies were coming under pressure, commodities were lower; the floor got pulled out from those hoping for hikes in May," said Darcy Browne, managing director of capital markets trading at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
"The Bank of Canada took some of the wind out of the sails of the Canada bulls who were hoping for near-term interest rate hikes ... This was a perfect storm for a little back-up in the Canadian dollar today."
Adding to the pressure were crude prices that fell more than 3 percent and sharply weaker global equity markets. The Toronto Stock Exchange hit its lowest point in nearly four weeks, as energy and mining shares were battered by a broad commodities selloff. [ID:nL3E7FC04S] [ID:nN12257134]
The currency
"To me, really, nothing has changed fundamentally in the world. But on a one day, short-term trade, it was a healthy correction," said Browne.
The central bank reiterated comments made in its March 1 policy announcement, hinting that a May 31 interest rate hike was unlikely. But it set the stage for rate increases later this year by predicting inflation would hit its target six months earlier than previously thought. [ID:nN12159489]
Market focus now is on the Bank of Canada's monetary policy report and news conference on Wednesday morning, with traders set to parse any further comments on the strength of the Canadian dollar.
"The market's caught between a rock and a hard place here," said Browne. "They know the bank probably wants to hike, but the bank just can't hike when the currency's so strong. Oddly enough, they'll get their hike if the currency weakens."
BOND PRICES MOSTLY FIRM
Money market rates and bond yields fell slightly after the rate announcement as investors trimmed the likelihood of a rate increase at the Bank of Canada's next policy announcement date in May. Global factors were also in play.
"I think the general risk-off trend in global markets today is the more dominant impact," said David Tulk, chief Canada macro strategist at TD Securities.
Overnight index swaps, which trade based on expectations for the key central bank rate, now show just a 6.13 percent chance of a rate hike on May 31, compared with 26.61 percent before the statement.
A September rate hike remains fully priced in by the market
with a 25 basis point rise seen.
In a Reuters poll of economists and strategists released last week, however, the median forecast was for the bank to make the first interest rate hike of the year on July 19. [CA/POLL]
The two-year bond