Canada’s currency appreciated for the first day in three as stocks and crude oil rose and the U.S. dollar weakened. The Canadian dollar remained higher after Statistics Canada reported in Ottawa that the nation’s economy contracted in January for a sixth straight month, declining 0.7 percent. The greenback fell against all but one of the 16 most actively traded currencies, with the exception being the Japanese yen. Canada’s currency, known as the loonie, strengthened 0.8 percent to C$1.2529 per U.S. dollar at 8:37 a.m. in Toronto, from C$1.2624 yesterday. One Canadian dollar buys 79.82 U.S. cents. The loonie is headed for a 1.9 percent gain this month. That would be only its second monthly advance since May. The currency is poised to lose 2.7 percent this quarter.

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