By MarketsFarm

WINNIPEG, Dec. 4 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar was stronger on Friday, hitting its best levels in two years relative to its United States counterpart.
The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.7812 or US$1=C$1.2801, which compares with Thursday’s North American close of US$0.7764 or US$1=C$1.2880.
Better-than-expected domestic jobs data, coupled with softer employment data out of the U.S., contributed to the strength in the currency. Canada’s economy added 62,000 new jobs in November, which beat expectations. Meanwhile, U.S. nonfarm payrolls saw the smallest gain in months.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up by 0.9 per cent, at US$46.05 per barrel.
The TSX Composite Index was up on the day, gaining 122.95 points, or 0.71 per cent, to close at 17,520.97 points.

Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:

Buhler Industries—————-dn $ 0.03 at $ 2.66
Linamar Corp.——————–up $ 0.73 at $ 66.53
Maple Leaf Foods—————–dn $ 0.12 at $ 27.31
Nutrien Ltd.———————up $ 1.26 at $ 64.69
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc.—-dn $ 1.58 at $ 88.32
Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc.–dn $ 0.01 at $ 7.12

(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)