BLBG: Canadian Dollar Advances Before Quantitative Easing Statement
Canada’s dollar strengthened before a statement today by the Bank of Canada that may include measures to print money to buy debt assets to spur growth.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the initial reaction be a negative one,” said Ian Stannard, a currency strategist in London at BNP Paribas SA. “But given that the market has been well prepared, we should see the Canadian dollar regain some strength against the U.S. dollar. The overall risk environment will probably still be the dominant factor.”
Canada’s dollar gained as much as 0.6 percent as an index of global equities climbed for a third consecutive day, easing demand for haven currencies such as the U.S. dollar and the yen.
The loonie, as Canada’s dollar is known, gained 0.4 percent to C$1.2344 per U.S. dollar at 8:13 a.m. in Toronto, from C$1.2398 yesterday. One Canadian dollar buys 81.01 U.S. cents.
Canada’s central bank will provide guidelines today on monetary policy, which may include so-called quantitative easing. Policy makers cut the key interest rate on April 21 to 0.25 percent, the lowest on record, and said it may stay at that level for a year.
The statement is due at 10:30 a.m. New York time on the bank’s Web site.