TORONTO: The Canadian dollar weakened to a near one-month low against its US counterpart on Tuesday, as the greenback broadly climbed and after recent domestic data supported the view that the Bank of Canada could cut interest rates this year.
Since Friday, domestic data for May has showed a surprise decline in both retail sales and wholesale trade.
"Headwinds for the Canadian dollar appear to be intensifying as market participants reassess the outlook for relative central bank policy in light of domestic data disappointments and constructive political developments out of Washington," Scotiabank strategists said in a research note.
Chances of a Bank of Canada interest rate cut this year have climbed to more than 50pc from about 20pc before the Bank of Canada interest rate decision earlier this month.
The central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75pc but highlighted the risks that trade wars posed to the global economy.
The US dollar rose to a two-week high versus its rivals after US President Donald Trump and congressional leaders agreed a two-year extension of the debt limit, dousing fears of a government default later this year.
At 9:20 a.m. (1320 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading 0.3pc lower at 1.3152 to the greenback, or 76.03 US cents. The currency, which touched its lowest intraday level since June 26 at 1.3164, has pulled back from a near nine-month high on Friday at 1.3016.
Meanwhile, the price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, was little changed on Tuesday as easing tensions in the Middle East dimmed supply disruption concerns.
US crude oil futures prices rose 0.1pc to $56.28 a barrel.
The 10-year yield touched its lowest intraday since July 4 at 1.454pc, while the gap between the 10-year yield and its US counterpart widened by 3.8 basis points to a spread of 59.5 basis points in favor of the US bond, the biggest gap since June 19.
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