* Canadian dollar rises 0.5 percent against the greenback
* Canada's economy grows 0.2 percent in July
* Bond prices trade mixed across a flatter yield curve
* Canada-U.S. 2-year spread narrows by 2.6 basis points
TORONTO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened against the greenback on Friday after a speech by Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz and faster-than-expected growth of the domestic economy reinforced expectations of an interest rate hike in October.
Canada's economy grew 0.2 percent in July, stronger than the 0.1 percent increase that analysts had forecast, Statistics Canada data indicated. of an interest rate increase next month by the Bank of Canada held at nearly 80 percent after the data, the overnight index swaps market indicated. BOCWATCH
The central bank will continue to raise interest rates gradually, Governor Stephen Poloz said on Thursday, stressing that despite economic uncertainties, the bank did not want to let inflation momentum build. important unknown was the fate of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, Poloz said.
Canada on Thursday shrugged off U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism that talks to modernize NAFTA were moving too slowly and made clear it had to keep negotiating as long as there was a chance of success. has already concluded an agreement with Mexico, the third country in NAFTA, and is threatening to leave out Canada unless it signs up by Sunday.
At 9:17 (1317 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading 0.5 percent higher at 1.2976 to the greenback, or 77.07 U.S. cents, outperforming all other G10 currencies.
The loonie, which on Thursday hit its weakest in more than two weeks at 1.3083, traded in a range of 1.2971 to 1.3050. For the week, it is on track to fall 0.4 percent.
The U.S. dollar .DXY climbed against a basket of other major currencies as Italy's decision to set a higher than expected budget deficit put pressure on the euro. price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, steadied as U.S. sanctions on Tehran squeezed Iranian crude exports. U.S. crude CLc1 prices were down 0.1 percent at $72.07 a barrel. government bond prices were mixed across a flatter yield curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR down 1 Canadian cent to yield 2.206 percent and the 10-year CA10YT=RR rising 8 Canadian cents to yield 2.414 percent.
The gap between the 2-year yield and its U.S. equivalent narrowed by 2.6 basis points to 60.9 basis points in favor of the U.S. bond.