BoC Rate Cut Speculation Weighs on Canadian Dollar, Boosts USD/CAD.
USD/CAD currency pair is becoming stronger, marching towards 1.3800, largely because of rising chances of an interest rate reduction by the Bank of Canada (BoC). Market participants are now pricing in greater odds of a rate reduction in September, after a softer-than-projected economic downturn in the second quarter and the continuing effects of tariffs. This expected monetary policy divergence, with the BoC possibly cutting rates while the US Federal Reserve continues to be more dovish, makes the Canadian Dollar (CAD) less desirable. On top of that, a worldwide bond market selloff is enticing investors towards the safe-haven US Dollar (USD), further increasing the pair. Though escalating crude oil prices may provide some relief to the commodity-linked CAD, overall sentiment is in favor of a stronger USD as market players look to major US economic releases, such as the JOLTS Job Openings and the Fed’s Beige Book, for direction. KEY LOOKOUTS • Watch closely for the scheduled US JOLTS Job Openings and Fed Beige Book, which may hold hints of the health of the US labor market and economy. • The market now prices in 55% probability of a rate cut at the next Bank of Canada meeting on September 17. • As an oil-linked currency, the value of the CAD is dictated by crude oil prices. • General market “risk-off” mood induced by mounting worldwide debt mountains continues to play into the safe-haven USD, providing a steady tailwind for the USD/CAD pair. Canadian Dollar (CAD) recent decline against the US Dollar (USD), forcing the USD/CAD pair towards 1.3800, is mainly due to evolving monetary policy expectations. With the market now pricing a greater likelihood of an interest rate reduction by the Bank of Canada (BoC) on September 17, following a recent period of economic decline, the CAD is no longer attractive to investors wanting higher yields. This is compounded by a worldwide “risk-off” mood spurred on by increasing sovereign debt levels, causing safe-haven flows to go towards the US Dollar. Although higher crude oil prices may act as a natural support for the commodity-linked CAD, the divergent policy expectations of the BoC and the Federal Reserve, as well as the general risk aversion, are likely to keep the USD/CAD pair supported in the near future. CAD is under pressure as markets expect a BoC interest rate cut on 17th September. The US Dollar is gaining traction as a safe-haven currency as the world becomes increasingly concerned about the global economy, with the focal point today being US JOLTS Job Openings and Fed Beige Book for further guidance. The direction of the pair will be greatly determined by the divergence in monetary policy and overall risk appetite. • The main impetus for the strength of the USD/CAD is the rise in market expectation of a Bank of Canada interest rate reduction on September 17. • The expectation is driven by a sharper-than-expected decline in Canada’s Q2 economic production, which has pulled down the Canadian dollar. • A surge in debt worries and a global bond market sell-off are driving risk aversion, which prompts investors to turn into the haven of the US Dollar, further supporting the USD/CAD pair. • The BoC’s potential for rate cuts against the Federal Reserve’s more conservative policy stance creates an extremely powerful tailwind for the USD. • A crude oil price hike may play a counter-force role, as Canada is one of the largest oil-exporting nations, and this may help support the CAD and cap the pair’s upside. • Upcoming later today are key economic indicators such as the US JOLTS Job Openings and the Fed Beige Book, and these are expected to impact the pair’s near-term direction. • Outside of September, BofA economists expect additional BoC rate reductions in October and December that will further put pressure on the CAD over the next few months. The US Dollar is rallying against the Canadian Dollar with the currency pair now trading at around 1.3800 mainly due to a change in market expectations regarding the Bank of Canada (BoC). A recent Canadian economic slowdown has caused traders to raise substantially their bets for a BoC rate cut in September, from the 40% probability last week to almost 55% currently. This expected monetary policy divergence, with the Canadian central bank set to cut its rates while the US Federal Reserve holds back, is one of the main concerns affecting the Canadian Dollar. Second, increasing global debt and economic instability are inducing investors to flee to safe-haven currencies, with the US Dollar as a major beneficiary of this risk-off demand. USD/CAD DAILY PRICE CHART SOURCE: TradingView Aside from the monetary policy and risk drivers, the price of crude oil is also a factor in this scenario. While the Canadian dollar is generally assisted by stronger oil prices, the current trend of weakening is strong enough to overcome this commodity-related correlation. Market focus is now shifting towards future US economic releases, namely the JOLTS Job Openings and the Fed Beige Book, for more indications regarding the US economy’s well-being. Any indication of the strengthening of the US might reinforce such a belief that the Fed will delay rate cuts, widening the policy differential between the two nations further and potentially driving the USD/CAD pair upward. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS The USD/CAD pair has been displaying a clear trend upwards, as it is trading in positive mode for the third day in a row. The pair’s recent price at 1.3795 is a major level since it has been a resistance level previously. A break above this level, sustained, could be taken as an indication of additional bullish action, possibly aimed at the next resistance level at 1.3850 and then 1.3900. If the pair is not able to break through this level of resistance, it may retreat towards its recent support levels, which stand at 1.3710 and 1.3610. The short-term direction is underpinned by fundamentals such as divergence in monetary policy, but the traders will be waiting for a confirmed breakout through technical