By MarketsFarm
WINNIPEG, Dec. 30 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar was slightly higher Monday morning as crude oil prices made modest gains.
As of 8:57 CST, the Canadian dollar was at US$0.7650 or C$1.3075. That compares to Friday’s North American close of US$0.7646 or C$1.3078.
Crude oil prices were stronger Friday morning due to a decrease in the United States trade deficit and rising Middle East tensions.
Brent crude oil rose 53 cents at US$68.69 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate gained 35 cents at US$62.07 per barrel. Western Canadian Select was up 12 cents at US$40.34 per barrel.
The TSX/S&P Composite Index opened lower by 54.86 at 17,113.35 points, following the U.S. markets.
The Dow Jones slipped 13.86 to start the week at 28,631.40 points. The NASDAQ was down 8.24 at 8,998.38 and the S&P 500 open flat with a loss of 1.70 at 3,238.32 points.
Gold was down 40 cents at US$1,517.70 per ounce.
