WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar was lower on Thursday after the release of economic data from the United States.
The loonie was at US$0.7987 or US$1=C$1.2520 on Thursday, down from Wednesday’s close at US$0.7996 or US$1=C$1.2506. The U.S. Labor Department announced that producer prices increased 7.8 per cent over the past year, the largest rise in more than a decade.
The United States Dollar Index was up 0.08 points at 93.00.
Benchmark crude oil prices were also down on Thursday. Brent crude oil slipped US$0.25 per barrel to US$71.19. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil dropped US$0.29 to US$69.96/barrel. Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude oil fell US$0.54 to US$59.62/barrel.
The TSX/S&P Composite Index lost 33.41 points to 20.520.60.
Gold increased US$1.50 per ounce to US$1,753.21.
Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:
Buhler Industries dn $ 0.01 at $ 2.99
Farmer’s Edge Inc. up $ 0.37 at $ 9.50
Linamar Corp. up $ 0.61 at $ 74.52
Maple Leaf Foods up $ 0.04 at $ 26.28
Nutrien Ltd. up $ 0.10 at $ 79.70
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc. up $ 1.49 at $ 76.99
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)