Canadian Financial Close: Loonie steady, crude oil falls

Glacier FarmMedia MarketsFarm – The Canadian dollar was virtually unchanged on Friday to end the week.

The loonie closed at US$0.7423 or US$1=C$1.3471, compared to US$0.7422 or US$1=C$1.3474 on Thursday. Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported earlier today that while the country added 41,000 jobs in February, the unemployment rate rose to 5.8 per cent.

Most parts of Canada will switch over to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday.

The U.S. Dollar Index declined 0.09 of a point at 102.73.

Soft Chinese demand caused crude oil prices to drop on Friday. Brent crude oil was down US$1.05 at US$81.91 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell US$1.06 at US$77.87/barrel.

The TSX/S&P Composite Index lost 57.03 points at 21,737.53.

Gold climbed to another record high, gaining US$19.60 at US$2,184.80 per ounce.

Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:

Buhler Ind.                      dn  $ 0.01     at $  2.16

Farmer’s Edge Inc.               unchanged      at $  0.345

Linamar Corp.                    dn  $ 0.95     at $ 69.87

Maple Leaf Foods                 dn  $ 0.04     at $ 22.98

Nutrien Ltd.                     dn  $ 0.96     at $ 71.37

RB Global Inc.                   dn  $ 0.07     at $101.99

(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)