USD/CAD: Canadian Dollar Edges Higher

 | Jun 05, 2018 09:50

The Canadian dollar has posted gains on Tuesday. Currently, USD/CAD is trading at 1.2980, up 0.38% on the day. On the release front, there are key events on both sides of the border. Canada releases Labor Productivity, which is expected to edge up to 0.3%. The U.S. will release ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI, which is expected to improve to 57.9 points. On Wednesday, Canada releases two key events – Trade Balance and Building Permits. As well, Canada releases Ivey PMI.

Canada is the host of the G7 meetings this year, and finance ministers from six countries were united in their criticism of U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin over a brewing trade war. Last week, the Trump administration imposed stiff tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that the tariffs were “unacceptable” and said that Canada would “impose dollar-for-dollar tariffs for every dollar levied against Canadians by the U.S.” Canada will host the G7 leaders, and European leaders have made clear that they want the U.S. tariffs to be high on the agenda. If the trade battle escalates, Canada’s export-reliant economy could take a hit and drag down the Canadian dollar.

The on-again-off-again Korea nuclear summit is back on, complete with a starting time. The much-heralded meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jong-un will take place in Singapore on June 12, at 9 a.m. sharp. The summit will mark the first-ever face-to-face meeting between leaders of the U.S.and North Korea, but Trump has tried to lower expectations, saying that he didn’t expect the sides to sign an agreement. Rather, the meeting would mark the start of a process. North Korea is unlikely to agree to denuclearization, but the fact that the two sides are talking is likely to continue boosting the stock markets.

USD/CAD Fundamentals

Tuesday (June 5)

  • 8:30 Canadian Labor Productivity. Estimate 0.3%
  • 9:45 US Final Services PMI. Estimate 55.7
  • 10:00 US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI. Estimate 57.9
  • 10:00 US JOLTS Job Openings. Estimate 6.49M
  • Tentative – US IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism. Estimate 54.2

Wednesday (June 6)

  • 8:30 Canadian Trade Balance
  • 8:30 Canadian Building Permits
  • 10:00 Canadian Ivey PMI. Estimate 69.7

*All release times are DST

*Key events are in bold

USD/CAD for Tuesday, June 5, 2018