WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar took a step down on Wednesday.
The loonie was at US$0.7863 or US$1=C$1.2717 on Wednesday, down from Tuesday’s close of US$0.7869 or US$1=C$1.2708.
The United States Dollar Index was down 0.07 of a point to 96.19. Minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Dec. 14 and 15 meeting released earlier today showed a willingness to raise interest rates sooner than later.
Benchmark crude oil prices inched upward on Wednesday. Brent crude oil increased US$0.12 per barrel to US$80.12. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil advanced US$0.22 to US$77.21/barrel. Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude oil rose US$0.36 at US$65.19/barrel.
The release of the Fed’s meeting minutes brought pressure on the stock markets, including the TSX/S&P Composite Index, which fell 196.64 points to 21,039.88.
Gold shed US$4.60 per ounce to US$1,810.00.
Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:
Buhler Industries dn $ 0.03 at $ 3.25
Farmer’s Edge Inc. dn $ 0.01 at $ 3.19
Linamar Corp. up $ 0.88 at $ 77.70
Maple Leaf Foods dn $ 0.50 at $ 28.75
Nutrien Ltd. dn $ 1.93 at $ 89.32
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc. dn $ 0.22 at $ 77.53
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)
