By MarketsFarm
WINNIPEG, June 25 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar was weaker on Thursday, touching its lowest level relative to its United States counterpart in 10 days.
The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.7329 or US$1=C$1.3645, which compares with Wednesday’s North American close of US$0.7358 or US$1=C$1.3591.
Ratings-agency Fitch downgraded Canada from AAA status to AA+ on Wednesday, marking the first time the country dipped below the top rating level since 2004. Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings, the other two major ratings agencies, both still have Canada at AAA.
Crude oil was higher on Thursday, with West Texas Intermediate up 2.8 per cent at US$39.80 per barrel.
The TSX Composite Index was stronger, gaining 151.76 points, or 0.99 per cent, to close at 15,446.14 points.
Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:
Buhler Industries—————- $ 0.00 at $ 2.51
Linamar Corp.——————–up $ 0.04 at $ 38.57
Maple Leaf Foods—————–dn $ 0.10 at $ 28.45
Nutrien Ltd.———————up $ 0.23 at $ 45.94
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc.—-dn $ 0.87 at $ 54.33
Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc.–dn $ 0.19 at $ 4.13
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)