Glacier FarmMedia — The Canadian dollar was slightly firmer Wednesday morning, lacking any clear direction as currency traders await news on the end of the government shutdown in the United States.
At 9:12 a.m. CST the Canadian dollar was trading at US$0.7137 or US$1=C$1.4011 which compares with Monday’s close of US$0.7133 or US$1=C$1.4020. Canadian markets were closed Tuesday for Remembrance Day.
The U.S. Senate approved a compromise bill on Monday that would end the lengthy shutdown. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on it today.
An estimated C$11.7 billion worth of building permits were issued in Canada in September, which was up by 4.5 per cent from the previous month, reported Statistics Canada. The residential sector was up 4.8 per cent while non-residential permits increased 4.0 per cent.
Crude oil was softer, with West Texas Intermediate down by 2.92 per cent at US$59.26 per barrel.
The TSX rose 245.81 points at 9:12 CST to trade at 30,655.06.
