WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar stepped up on Thursday despite declining crude oil prices.
The loonie closed at US$0.7730 or US$1=C$1.2937, up from US$0.7702 or US$1=C$1.2983 on Wednesday. Statistics Canada reported on Thursday that job vacancies increased month-by-month by 3.2 per cent in June, hitting an all-time high of 1.038 million.
The United States Dollar Index dropped 0.27 of a point to 108.41.
Crude oil prices reversed some of their recent gains. Brent crude oil fell US$1.47 per barrel to US$99.75. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil lost US$1.99 at US$92.90/barrel. Meanwhile, Western Canadian Select (WCS) retreated US$2.18 per barrel to US$73.35.
The TSX/S&P Composite Index jumped 150.96 points at 20,172.34.
Gold added US$9.30 at US$1,770.80 per ounce.
Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:
Buhler Ind. dn $ 0.03 at $ 1.97
Farmer’s Edge Inc. up $ 0.04 at $ 0.65
Linamar Corp. up $ 0.28 at $ 62.57
Maple Leaf Foods up $ 0.11 at $ 23.42
Nutrien Ltd. up $ 3.79 at $131.43
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc. up $ 0.26 at $ 91.44
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)
