By MarketsFarm
WINNIPEG, March 18 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar was stronger on Friday, as solid domestic retail sales data provided support.
The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.7926 or US$1=C$1.2617 on Friday, which compares with Thursday’s North American close of US$0.7905 or US$1=C$1.2651.
Canadian retail sales were up by 3.2 per cent in January, according to a report from Statistics Canada. The increase beat expectations and was seen as contributing to future interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada
Crude oil posted considerable gains on the day, with Texas Intermediate crude oil up by 2.69 per cent, at US$105.75 per barrel.
The TSX Composite Index was stronger, up 47.25 points, or 0.22 per cent, to close at 21,818.47 points.
Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:
Buhler Ind.———————- $ 0.00 at $ 2.60
Linamar Corp.——————–up $ 1.30 at $ 58.79
Maple Leaf Foods—————–dn $ 0.02 at $ 29.89
Nutrien Ltd.———————up $ 1.06 at $125.06
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc.—-dn $ 0.34 at $ 75.75
Farmers Edge Inc.—————- $ 0.00 at $ 2.98
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)
