USD/CAD steady as job growth falls in Canada, US

The Canadian dollar is showing little movement on Friday. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3618, up 0.05% on the day.

Canada and the US released employment data today and surprisingly, the Canadian dollar has showed almost no reaction.

Canada’s labor market contracted in June, with a decrease of 1.4 thousand. This follows a gain of 26.7 thousand in May and was well below the market estimate of a 22.5 thousand gain. The unemployment rate rose to 6.4%, up from 6.2% in May and higher than the market estimate of 6.3%. At the same time, wage growth climbed 5.6% in June, up from 5.2% and the 5.3% market estimate.

The Bank of Canada will be pleased with the weaker job data but the sharp increase in wages could complicate plans to lower interest rates. The BoC cut rates in June for the first time since March 2020, the first major central bank to do so. The Bank wants to see a further cooling of the economy and lower inflation before it feels confident delivering a second rate cut.

The US economy added 206 thousand jobs in June, beating the market estimated of 190 thousand. The May reading was revised sharply lower from an initial 272 thousand and the April data was also revised lower. This indicates that the labor market is weakening and could set up a quarter-point rate cut in September.

Federal Reserve officials remain cautious about shifting rate policy and have stressed that a rate cut will have to wait until they are confident that inflation will continue to move sustainably towards the 2% target. New York Fed President John Williams echoed this stance on Friday, saying that the Fed had lowered inflation significantly but “we still have a way to go to reach our 2% target on a sustained basis”.

The Fed may be in a cautious mood but the markets are becoming more confident of a September cut. The odds have risen to 72% following today’s employment release, up from 68% immediately before the release and just 58% one week ago, according to the CME’s FedWatch.
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USD/CAD Technical

• USD/CAD is testing resistance at 1.3621. Above, there is resistance at 1.3656
• There is support at 1.3600 and 1.3586

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