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USD/CAD Remains Flat Below 1.4350 On Fed Speculation and Canadian Politics

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  • March 24, 2025
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The USD/CAD currency pair begins the week cautiously trading just below the mid-1.4300s as conflicting market signals keep traders and investors nervous. While hopes of an eventual Fed rate cut dampen the US Dollar, lower Crude Oil prices and political instability in Canada—after Prime Minister Mark Carney demanded a snap election—cap the Canadian Dollar’s appreciation. In spite of intraday declines, the pair is still within last week’s range, indicating a lack of direction. With US PMI data and FOMC member speeches coming up, along with volatile oil prices, traders are waiting for new signals to decide the next direction in USD/CAD. KEY LOOKOUTS • Flash PMI prints and comments from prominent Federal Reserve members may steer short-term market sentiment and USD direction. • Short bets on an impending Fed rate-cut cycle are still a dominant force for USD movements and will keep influencing the trend in USD/CAD. • The surprise call for a snap election by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney injects uncertainty and could cap any sharp rise in the Canadian Dollar. • As a commodity-based currency, the CAD is still vulnerable to price movements in crude oil, so oil market fundamentals are an essential factor to monitor. Several factors affecting the USD/CAD in the short term need to be monitored closely by traders. Market interest will continue to be on US economic releases, specifically the flash PMI prints and Fed official speeches, which might provide new insights into the central bank’s monetary policy direction. Speculation over a possible Fed rate cut continues to pressure the US Dollar, while political tension in Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s surprise election call might cap Canadian Dollar gains. Also, crude oil price volatility—considering CAD’s high correlation with oil—will be instrumental in determining the pair’s direction. Major areas of focus are future US PMI releases and FOMC speeches, which may influence USD sentiment. Speculation in the market regarding Fed rate cuts and Canada’s surprise election announcement may also impact USD/CAD movement. Also, oil price volatility is still important for the Loonie’s direction. • USD/CAD trades flat below the mid-1.4300s on mixed market signals. • Expectations of a Fed rate cut continue to bear down on the US Dollar. • Dovish Crude Oil prices constrain the Canadian Dollar’s rise. • Political risk increases with Canada’s PM announcing a snap election on April 28. • The market mood remains risk-averse with no definite directional bias. • The market waits for US flash PMI numbers and FOMC member speeches for new indications. • Price volatility in oil will continue to be a primary driver of USD/CAD direction. The USD/CAD pair is stable to start the new week, guided by a combination of economic and political events. Market participants closely monitor the situation unfolding in the US and Canada. On one side, the US Dollar is under pressure as there are growing hopes that the Federal Reserve might have rate cuts in the near term in view of economic slowdown concerns. On the other side, Canada’s political scenario has been given a fresh twist with Prime Minister Mark Carney declaring an unexpected election, raising doubts over future policy and investor sentiment towards the Canadian Dollar. USD/CAD Daily Price Chart Chart Source: TradingView Simultaneously, sentiment across broader markets is subdued as traders consider global economic indicators and geopolitical tensions. The Canadian Dollar, commonly sensitive to commodity prices, is also responding to oil price movements, which significantly determine its relative strength. In the near term, traders are likely to monitor closely the release of US economic data and speeches by Federal Reserve officials, which may provide more insight into the policy direction and its implications for currency movements. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS USD/CAD pair is range-bound, with prices staying just below the mid-1.4300s, indicating a lack of strong directional momentum. The pair has been able to bounce back from initial Asian session lows around 1.4325 but still trades in the wider range set last Friday. In spite of multiple attempts, the pair has failed to break convincingly above the 1.4400 resistance level, which suggests that buyers are reluctant without a definite bullish catalyst. On the negative side, support at the moment is around the 1.4300 level, and a persistent dip below this may draw in new selling interest. Until a break on either side happens, the pair will remain in this tight range, waiting for new impetus from economic news or political events. FORECAST Should market sentiment turn bullish for the US Dollar, perhaps in response to better-than-anticipated US economic news or more aggressive Federal Reserve rhetoric, USD/CAD may try to challenge the 1.4400 resistance level once again. A clear breakout above it may allow for additional upside, particularly if political uncertainty continues to pressure the Canadian Dollar. Also, if the price of oil continues to slide, it will add pressure to the Loonie, thereby supporting the trend in the USD/CAD to the upside. Conversely, in the event of Fed rate cut hopes gaining traction or if disappointing US data come out in the future, the US Dollar is likely to face fresh selling interest, causing USD/CAD to move lower. A drop below the 1.4300 support area may initiate additional weakness towards the 1.4260 or even 1.4200 levels. In addition, any improvement in Canada’s political scenario or a good bounce in crude oil prices might provide support to the Canadian Dollar, raising the risk of decline for the USD/CAD currency pair.

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Currencies

USD/CAD Rallies Back Over 1.4300 Ahead of Fed Rate Decision as Dollar Reverses Slightly and Oil Prices Lose Ground

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  • March 19, 2025
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The USD/CAD currency pair has mounted a rebound from its two-week low of 1.4260, rising back above the 1.4300 mark as market participants look forward to the much-awaited Federal Reserve policy meeting decision. A small recovery in the US Dollar from multi-month lows, together with softer crude oil prices, has given the pair support for the second day in a row. Gains are still capped, however, with investors holding back ahead of the Fed’s interest rate decision and economic forecasts, as well as closely monitoring Chair Jerome Powell’s rhetoric for guidance on the coming rate-cut direction. KEY LOOKOUTS • Market participants will be keeping a close eye on the Federal Reserve’s rate move and economic forecast, paying specific attention to any hints regarding the timing and rhythm of impending rate cuts. • The direction of the USD after the meeting will be important in deciding on the next move of USD/CAD, particularly if Powell sounds more dovish or hawkish than anticipated. • Being an oil-linked currency, the Canadian Dollar is still vulnerable to the movements in oil prices. Any additional weakness in crude oil may still drag the Loonie. • Rising tensions in the Middle East may have an impact on oil supply projections and risk appetite, which could in turn affect oil prices and safe-haven demand for the USD. With the USD/CAD currency pair trading just above the 1.4300 level, market attention continues to be squarely on the next Federal Reserve policy announcement, which is set to give the US Dollar new guidance. Traders will be keenly listening to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the revised economic forecasts for hints on the central bank’s future rate-cut trajectory. In the meantime, any substantial move in crude oil prices would impact the Canadian Dollar, as it strongly correlates with oil. Further, tensions in the Middle East are also a possible risk factor that can affect market sentiment and commodity prices, thus impacting the near-term USD/CAD course. USD/CAD remains above 1.4300 prior to the Fed policy announcement, helped by a small US Dollar recovery and lower oil prices. Market focus now centers around Jerome Powell’s remarks for insights into upcoming rate cuts, with geopolitical tensions and oil price actions continuing as main driving factors. • USD/CAD recovers above 1.4300 from a two-week low just below 1.4260. • Small US Dollar recovery from multi-month lows helps the pair. • Traders stay on guard in anticipation of the pivotal Federal Reserve policy announcement. • Fed likely to leave rates steady; attention turns to economic projections and Powell’s comments. • Impending rate-cut indications from the Fed may have a profound impact on USD direction. • Weakening crude oil prices deter the Canadian Dollar, facilitating USD/CAD gains. • Middle East geopolitical tensions may affect oil prices and risk mood, which can impact the pair. The USD/CAD currency pair is in the limelight as markets globally await the outcome of the closely watched Federal Reserve policy meeting. As no interest-rate change is anticipated, investors are following keenly the Fed’s revised economic forecast and comments from Chair Jerome Powell. These observations will prove to be pivotal in determining the central bank’s attitude towards upcoming monetary policy, especially in context to future interest rate reductions later this year. The result of this meeting is expected to influence overall market sentiment and direct currency movements in the subsequent sessions. USD/CAD Daily Price Chart Chart Source: TradingView While meanwhile, wider economic conditions still influence the USD/CAD forecast. Oil prices, which heavily influence the Canadian economy, have been revealing their volatility, providing another source of uncertainty. Furthermore, heightened tensions in the Middle East are closely watched, as they have the potential to affect global energy markets and investor mood. Since there are more than one factor involved, market players are walking on eggshells, waiting for more definitive indications before making firm actions. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS USD/CAD has been able to bounce from the recent support level around 1.4260, showing buying interest at lower levels. The pair recovering above the 1.4300 level shows a possible short-term bullish tilt, although the momentum is moderate. Traders will be monitoring a sustained move above this level to confirm further upside potential. On the negative side, if the pair cannot remain above 1.4300, it will go back to the recent support zone, whereas resistance levels at 1.4350 and 1.4380 may prove to be obstacles for any potential rise. FORECAST In case the Federal Reserve retains a dovish tone and avoids any indication of near-term rate cuts, the US Dollar is likely to move even higher, possibly taking USD/CAD up. A strong push through the 1.4300 level can create space for the pair to challenge the subsequent resistance levels at 1.4350 and 1.4380. Further deterioration in crude oil prices can also fuel upside movement in the pair, as the Canadian Dollar remains highly sensitive to movements in the oil market. An aggressive bullish break can even lead to a run-up to the 1.4400 area in the short term. Conversely, if the Fed indicates a dovish turn or suggests rate cuts earlier than anticipated, the US Dollar can come under fresh pressure, and that would initiate a decline in USD/CAD. A breakdown below the 1.4260 support could speed up selling pressure, taking the pair down to 1.4220 or even lower. Furthermore, any sudden surge in crude oil prices or de-escalation of geopolitical tensions would bolster the Canadian Dollar, leading to further losses for the pair.

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