By MarketsFarm
WINNIPEG, March 15 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar was slightly firmer on Monday, holding above the 80 U.S. cents level as Friday’s better-than-expected jobs data remained supportive.
The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.8013 or US$1=C$1.2480, which compares with Friday’s North American close US$0.8004 or US$1=C$1.2493.
Improving economic data out of China helped underpin equity markets, as the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic gains traction.
Crude oil was softer on Monday, with West Texas Intermediate crude oil down by 0.41 per cent at US$65.34 per barrel.
The TSX Composite Index was higher, gaining 103.43 points, or 0.55 per cent, to close at 18,954.75 points.
Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:
Buhler Industries—————-dn $ 0.03 at $ 3.29
Linamar Corp.——————–dn $ 3.11 at $ 81.55
Maple Leaf Foods—————–dn $ 0.21 at $ 26.94
Nutrien Ltd.———————up $ 0.40 at $ 73.32
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc.—-dn $ 0.15 at $ 71.47
Farmers Edge Inc.—————-up $ 0.05 at $ 17.95
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)