USD/CAD remains on the defensive near 1.3600 ahead of US CPI data

The
key
factors
driving
the
Canadian
Dollar
(CAD)
are
the
level
of
interest
rates
set
by
the
Bank
of
Canada
(BoC),
the
price
of
Oil,
Canada’s
largest
export,
the
health
of
its
economy,
inflation
and
the
Trade
Balance,
which
is
the
difference
between
the
value
of
Canada’s
exports
versus
its
imports.
Other
factors
include
market
sentiment
–
whether
investors
are
taking
on
more
risky
assets
(risk-on)
or
seeking
safe-havens
(risk-off)
–
with
risk-on
being
CAD-positive.
As
its
largest
trading
partner,
the
health
of
the
US
economy
is
also
a
key
factor
influencing
the
Canadian
Dollar.

The
Bank
of
Canada
(BoC)
has
a
significant
influence
on
the
Canadian
Dollar
by
setting
the
level
of
interest
rates
that
banks
can
lend
to
one
another.
This
influences
the
level
of
interest
rates
for
everyone.
The
main
goal
of
the
BoC
is
to
maintain
inflation
at
1-3%
by
adjusting
interest
rates
up
or
down.
Relatively
higher
interest
rates
tend
to
be
positive
for
the
CAD.
The
Bank
of
Canada
can
also
use
quantitative
easing
and
tightening
to
influence
credit
conditions,
with
the
former
CAD-negative
and
the
latter
CAD-positive.

The
price
of
Oil
is
a
key
factor
impacting
the
value
of
the
Canadian
Dollar.
Petroleum
is
Canada’s
biggest
export,
so
Oil
price
tends
to
have
an
immediate
impact
on
the
CAD
value.
Generally,
if
Oil
price
rises
CAD
also
goes
up,
as
aggregate
demand
for
the
currency
increases.
The
opposite
is
the
case
if
the
price
of
Oil
falls.
Higher
Oil
prices
also
tend
to
result
in
a
greater
likelihood
of
a
positive
Trade
Balance,
which
is
also
supportive
of
the
CAD.

While
inflation
had
always
traditionally
been
thought
of
as
a
negative
factor
for
a
currency
since
it
lowers
the
value
of
money,
the
opposite
has
actually
been
the
case
in
modern
times
with
the
relaxation
of
cross-border
capital
controls.
Higher
inflation
tends
to
lead
central
banks
to
put
up
interest
rates
which
attracts
more
capital
inflows
from
global
investors
seeking
a
lucrative
place
to
keep
their
money.
This
increases
demand
for
the
local
currency,
which
in
Canada’s
case
is
the
Canadian
Dollar.

Macroeconomic
data
releases
gauge
the
health
of
the
economy
and
can
have
an
impact
on
the
Canadian
Dollar.
Indicators
such
as
GDP,
Manufacturing
and
Services
PMIs,
employment,
and
consumer
sentiment
surveys
can
all
influence
the
direction
of
the
CAD.
A
strong
economy
is
good
for
the
Canadian
Dollar.
Not
only
does
it
attract
more
foreign
investment
but
it
may
encourage
the
Bank
of
Canada
to
put
up
interest
rates,
leading
to
a
stronger
currency.
If
economic
data
is
weak,
however,
the
CAD
is
likely
to
fall.