Canadian Financial Close: C$ drops ahead of CDN economic reports

By Commodity News Service Canada

WINNIPEG, April 21, 2016 (CNS Canada) – The Canadian dollar
dropped against its US counterpart on Thursday, following broad-
based weakness in commodities and crude oil.
Investors also positioned themselves ahead of the release
of domestic data, including February retail sales and March
consumer price index reports.
The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.7857 or US$1=C$1.2727,
which compares with Wednesday’s close of US$0.7905, or
US$1=C$1.2650.
The Standard & Poor’s/TSX Composite Index finished lower on
Thursday, as strength in the US dollar and worries over Europe’s
economy dampened investor confidence.
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi told reporters
the region’s interest rates could stay low for the foreseeable
futures.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index declined 30.09 points, or
0.22%, to 13,881.20.

Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:
AGT Food and Ingredients—–up $ 0.47 at $ 40.97
Agrium Incorporated———-dn $ 0.42 at $109.61
Buhler Industries————– $ 0.00 at $ 4.80
Maple Leaf Foods————-dn $ 0.16 at $ 26.67
Potash Corp. of Sask———up $ 0.26 at $ 22.99

(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)