WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar is coming very close to reaching 79 United States cents on Thursday.
As of 8:42 a.m. CDT, the loonie was at US$0.7896 or US$1=C$1.2665, compared to US$0.7861 or US$1=C$1.2721 on Wednesday. The U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.33 of a point at 98.29.
Benchmark crude oil prices were back on the rise on Thursday after the Kremlin downplayed reports of progress in talks between Russia and Ukraine. Brent crude oil advanced US$7.39 per barrel to US$105.41. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased US$7.57 to US$102.61/barrel. Western Canadian Select (WCS) added US$5.56 to US$87.89/barrel.
The TSX/S&P Composite Index gained 142.16 points to 21,610.99.
Gold surged US$32.90 per ounce to US$1,942.10.
