* C$ at 99.09 U.S. cents
* Hits 1-wk high vs US$, 3-mth high vs euro
* Bonds slip across the curve (Updates to midday, adds details, comments)
By Claire Sibonney
TORONTO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar rallied on Wednesday to a one-week high against the greenback and a three-month high versus the euro, lifted by a slew of strong U.S. economic data and fears of a spreading euro zone crisis.
U.S. data showed new claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week to their lowest level in more than two years, while consumer spending rose in October and consumer sentiment perked up this month to its highest level since June. [ID:nN24211131]
"Employment is key to any sort of U.S. recovery being sustainable. That was probably the highlight from a fundamental data point of view," said Firas Askari, head of foreign exchange trading at BMO Capital Markets.
The improving economic picture boosted North American equity markets as well as prices for oil and base metals, and enhanced the bid for Canada's commodity-linked and risk-related currency.
Askari said the Canadian dollar was so far the day's outperforming G10 currency, with most of the market's focus back on Europe.
Ireland's four-year plan to make 15 billion euros in savings to bring down its record deficit left investors little impressed. [ID:nLDE6AM25A]
At 12:54 p.m. (1754 GMT), the Canadian dollar
Against the euro, the Canadian dollar reached C$1.3476, or 74.21 euro cents, its strongest level since Sept. 21.
As well as the uncertainty over European debt levels, a Bloomberg report that Russia's central bank has begun adding small amounts of Canadian dollars to its international reserves -- which has been expecting since last year -- was also supportive. [ID:nN24236816]
Askari said the next near-term support for the U.S. dollar is the technical retracement level of C$1.0088.
He noted liquidity was thin in a holiday-shortened week ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving on Thursday, causing "whippy price action."
The Canadian dollar's strong performance however meant corporate Canada was taking an opportunity to buy U.S. dollars as it retests parity, which could stem some gains.
But Askari said Canada's strong fundamentals, including data on Tuesday that showed an unexpected jump in inflation and healthy retail sales, pointed to more upside for the currency.
"I do think the Canadian dollar is going to continue to do well ... and I wouldn't be surprised to see strong employment numbers next week out of Canada."
Canadian government bond prices were lower across the curve, tracking weak Treasury prices after the healthy U.S. economic data undermined the safe-haven appeal of government debt.
The two-year government of Canada bond