WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar made a small gain on Friday to end the week, despite a negative report from Statistics Canada.
The loonie closed at US$0.7292 or US$1=C$1.3713, up from US$0.7284 or US$1=C$1.3729 on Thursday. Canada’s central data agency reported that preliminary data showed Canadian retail sales dropped 0.5 per cent in September compared to August. Excluding auto sales and parts, retail sales increased 0.7 per cent in August.
The United States Dollar Index lost 1.06 points at 111.83.
Crude oil prices were higher on Friday. Brent crude oil jumped US$1.13 per barrel to US$93.51. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil increased US$0.61 at US$85.12/barrel. Western Canadian Select (WCS) was higher by US$0.71/barrel to US$58.72.
The TSX/S&P Composite rallied on Friday, rising 281.66 points to 18.860.95.
Gold climbed US$23.20 at US$1,660.00 per ounce.
Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:
Buhler Ind. unchanged at $ 1.98
Farmer’s Edge Inc. up $ 0.03 at $ 0.53
Linamar Corp. dn $ 1.14 at $ 55.01
Maple Leaf Foods dn $ 0.14 at $ 19.92
Nutrien Ltd. dn $ 0.67 at $113.07
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc. up $ 0.35 at $ 86.00
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)
