WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar remained mostly steady on Friday, but ended its longest string of weekly gains since 2016.
The loonie was at US$0.8274 or US$1=C$1.2086 on Friday, down from Thursday’s close at US$0.8283 or US$1=C$1.2073. Meanwhile, the United States Dollar Index increased by 0.08 points to 90.05. Consumer prices in the U.S. increased by 3.1 per cent year-to-year last April, indicating possible inflation.
Benchmark crude oil prices were mixed on Friday. Brent crude oil gained US$0.17 per barrel to US$69.63. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil declined by US$0.24 to US$66.61/barrel. Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude oil dropped by US$0.61 to US$52.25/barrel.
The TSX Composite Index closed the week on a high note on Friday, rising by 77.77 points to 19,852.18.
Gold rallied by US$7.23 to US$1,903.77 per ounce.
Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:
Buhler Industries dn $ 0.08 at $ 3.62
Farmer’s Edge Inc. up $ 0.28 at $ 9.97
Linamar Corp. unchanged at $ 79.09
Maple Leaf Foods up $ 0.29 at $ 26.73
Nutrien Ltd. up $ 0.78 at $ 75.13
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc. dn $ 0.71 at $ 72.16
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)