By MarketsFarm
WINNIPEG, May 19 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar held steady on Friday, lacking any clear direction ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend.
The Canadian dollar settled at US$0.7406 or US$1=C$1.3503 on Friday, which compares with Thursday’s close of US$0.7407 or US$1=C$1.3500.
Canadian retail sales were down by 1.4 per cent in March compared to the previous month, hitting C$65.3 billion, according to a report from Statistics Canada. Core sales, which exclude fuel and motor vehicle sales, were up by 0.3 per cent monthly.
Crude oil held near unchanged as well, retreating from earlier gains with West Texas Intermediate down by 0.2 per cent at US$71.70 per barrel.
The TSX Composite Index was stronger, up by 53.97 points or 0.27 per cent to close at 20,351.06 points.
Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:
Buhler Ind.———————-dn $ 0.12 at $ 2.03
Linamar Corp.——————–up $ 0.15 at $ 65.15
Maple Leaf Foods—————–up $ 0.14 at $ 26.99
Nutrien Ltd.———————up $ 0.80 at $ 83.73
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc.—-up $ 2.38 at $ 75.61
Farmers Edge Inc.—————-up $ 0.0175 at $ 0.1975
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)
