Canadian Financial Close: Loonie reacts to surge in U.S. dollar

Sharp jump in greenback after Federal Reserve comments

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: December 18, 2024

By Glen Hallick

Glacier Farm Media | MarketsFarm – The Canadian dollar gave up almost two-tenths of a cent on Wednesday, due to a sharp hike in its United States counterpart.

The loonie closed Wednesday at US$0.6972 or US$1=1.4343, compared to Tuesday’s finish of US$0.6991 or US$1=1.4305. On the U.S. Dollar Index, the greenback advanced 1.192 points at 107.855.

The significant increase in the U.S. dollar came after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell stated a more restrictive monetary policy is needed. Also, the Fed signaled further interest rate cuts in 2025 would likely amount to no more than 50 points. With today’s reduction of 25 basis points, that brought the total for 2024 to 100 points.

Read Also

Canadian Financial Close: Loonie, TSX on the rise

Glacier FarmMedia — The Canadian dollar gained some ground on Wednesday. The loonie closed at US$0.7275 or US$1=C$1.3746, compared to…

Benchmark crude oil prices a pinch lower on Wednesday, because of that course of action the Fed said it will be taking in next year.

Brent crude oil gave up 30 cents at US$72.89 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate dipped eight cents at US$70.00.

The TSX Composite Index plummeted 562.71 points on Wednesday to close at 24,557.00.

Gold fell US$55.40 at US$2,606.60 per ounce.

Canada’s agricultural sector fared as follows:

Buhler Industries                unchanged      at $  2.95

Farmers Edge Inc.                unchanged      at $ 0.345

Linamar Corp.                    dn $ 2.09      at $ 56.57

Maple Leaf Foods                 dn $ 0.42      at $ 20.85

Nutrien Ltd.                     dn $ 1.51      at $ 64.85

RB Global Inc.                   dn $ 2.77      at $131.15

(All figures are in Canadian dollars)

About the author

GFM Network News

GFM Network News

Glacier FarmMedia Feed

Glacier FarmMedia, a division of Glacier Media, is Canada's largest publisher of agricultural news in print and online.

explore

Stories from our other publications