By Fergal Smith
TORONTO (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar extended its recovery from a near two-year low against its U.S. counterpart on Tuesday as a measure of calm returned to global financial markets and economic data showed Canada posting a surprise trade surplus in June.
The loonie was trading 0.3% higher at 1.3785 to the U.S. dollar, or 72.54 U.S. cents, after on Monday touching its weakest intraday level since October 2022 at 1.3946.
“Today, the market is getting its head around some of the risks that are out there and having a sober second look,” said Adam Button, chief currency analyst at ForexLive.
Wall Street’s main stock indexes rose as investors looked for bargains after a global stock selloff, and dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials lifted market sentiment.
Canada recorded a trade surplus of C$638 million ($461 million) in June, mainly led by a jump in shipments of crude oil from the recently expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline. Analysts had forecast a C$1.84 billion trade deficit.
The price of oil was trading 0.5% higher at $73.30.
Separate data showed that Canada’s services economy deteriorated in July as activity and new business declined.
“The Canadian dollar has rejected that 1.39 level three times in the last two years and it’s proven to be a pivotal level time and time again,” Button said. “The market needs to feel a recession to really dump the Canadian dollar.”
Speculators have raised their bearish bets on the Canadian dollar to a record level, recent data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed.
Canadian government bond yields moved higher across the curve following a market holiday on Monday, tracking moves in U.S. Treasuries.
The 10-year was up 9 basis points at 3.088% after touching at one point on Friday its lowest level since May 2023 at 2.947%.
(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by David Holmes)
