Canadian Financial Close: Loonie stays put, crude oil rises

Glacier FarmMedia MarketsFarm – The Canadian dollar closed virtually unchanged on Thursday, with pressure from gains in the United States dollar and support from increases in crude oil countering each other.

The loonie closed at US$0.7422 or US$1=C$1.3474, compared to US$0.7423 or US$1=C$1.3471 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the United States Dollar Index was up 0.29 of a point at 101.39.

Crude oil prices rose on Thursday after the release of well-received economic data from the U.S. and production issues in Libya. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) jumped US$1.37 at US$75.89 per barrel. Brent crude oil advanced US$1.35 at US$80.00/barrel.

The TSX Composite Index added 100.51 points at 23,227.49.

Gold climbed US$16.20 at US$2,554.00 per ounce.

Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:

Buhler Ind.                      unchanged      at $  2.40

Farmer’s Edge Inc.               unchanged      at $  0.345

Linamar Corp.                    dn  $ 0.38     at $ 62.72

Maple Leaf Foods                 dn  $ 0.16     at $ 22.37

Nutrien Ltd.                     up  $ 0.69     at $ 65.12

RB Global Inc.                   up  $ 0.13     at $115.01

(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)