By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, Feb. 13 – The Canadian dollar was stronger Thursday morning, as gains in crude oil provided some support for the energy-linked currency.
At 9:17 CST Friday morning the Canadian dollar was at US$0.8043 or C$1.2433 which compares with Thursday’s North American close of US$0.8006, or C$1.2490.
Better-than-expected Canadian economic data contributed to the firmer tone in the currency. Factory sales in the country were up 1.7% in December, compared to the previous month, hitting C$52.39 billion, according to Statistics Canada data. Average pre-report guesses had been for a much more modest rise of 1.0%.
The TSX was stronger in early activity, up 81.68 points at 9:17 CST to sit at 15,310.20.
