By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, June 21 (CNS Canada) – The Canadian dollar was trading at 75.55 U.S. cents at 8:46 CDT (C$1.3236 per US$1). The loonie closed Wednesday at 75.13 U.S. cents (C$1.331 per US$1)
Statistics Canada reported today that retail sales gained 0.8 per cent in April from the previous month. Retail spending since Jan. 1 has risen 3.6 per cent.
Oil prices remained under pressure from an oversupply problem linked to the failure of OPEC countries to control exports. Despite the overriding problem, benchmark Brent crude futures were up 43 cents on early trading at US$45.25 at 7:30 a.m. CDT.
The S&P/TSX was up 55.64 points to 15,204.17 at 8:00 a.m. CDT.