TORONTO: The Canadian dollar edged higher against its US counterpart on Monday, helped by data showing an improvement in the US housing market, which fueled hopes of stronger growth by Canada's largest trading partner.
US pending home sales in January hit a near two-year high, defying economists' expectations of a contraction and supporting recent signs the US housing market is improving.
"We're probably going to see the Canadian economy pick up some of the momentum coming out of the States, assuming commodity prices remain supportive of the rally overall even though you get days like this where you get a pullback in oil and a pullback in gold," said Andrew Pyle, a wealth advisor at ScotiaMcLeod.
Oil prices pulled back after a string of higher settlements as concerns that high energy costs might curb economic growth countered supportive fears about Iran and potential supply disruptions.
Gold prices also eased, as a weaker euro and oil's retreat halted the metal's attempt to test technical resistance at above $1,800 an ounce following last week's sharp rally.
The Canadian dollar finished at C$0.9992 versus the US dollar, or $1.0008, compared with Friday's close at C$0.9997 to the US dollar, or $1.0003.
The currency hit earlier C$1.0050, its weakest level since Feb. 16.
Breaking beyond that level would open up the way towards C$1.0150, said Adam Button, currency analyst at ForexLive in Montreal.
The Canadian dollar and some other risk-averse assets struggled early in the wake of a meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers.
The G20 policymakers said on Sunday they were "alert to the risks of higher oil prices" and discussed at length the impact that sanctions on Iran will have on crude supplies and global growth.
Canadian bond prices edged higher across the curve. The two-year bond was up a Canadian cent to yield 1.071 percent. The 10-year bond climbed 10 Canadian cents to yield 2.012 percent.
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