Canadian Financial Close: C$ weakens to one-month lows

By Commodity News Service Canada

WINNIPEG, May 19 (CNS Canada) – The Canadian dollar hit its weakest levels in over a month on Thursday, amid mounting expectations for a US interest rate hike in June and the resulting strength in the US dollar.

Losses in crude oil added to the softer tone in the energy-linked currency.

The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.7631 or US$1=C$1.3105, which compares with Wednesday’s close of US$0.7679, or US$1=C$1.3023.

The TSX ended lower, with losses in crude oil and the rising US dollar behind some of the day’s weakness in the energy and financial sectors. The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 8.69 points, or 0.06%, to close at 13,817.32.

Canada’s agricultural sector faired as follows:
AGT Food and Ingredients—–up $ 1.01 at $ 37.47
Agrium Incorporated———-up $ 0.04 at $114.93
Buhler Industries————– $ 0.00 at $ 4.90
Maple Leaf Foods————-up $ 0.56 at $ 29.88
Potash Corp. of Sask———up $ 0.89 at $ 21.79
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)