The USD/CAD exchange rate is showing a firmer tone in post-Christmas trade as shifting risk sentiment reshapes near-term direction. The US dollar rate today is edging higher as markets turn more cautious amid rising Middle East tensions, with Saudi airstrikes and Iran’s war rhetoric driving safe-haven demand and supporting the greenback. This renewed USD bid has nudged the pair higher, keeping the CAD to USD rate tilted in favour of the dollar. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar rate today is slipping modestly under the weight of a firmer USD, though downside pressure remains limited as higher crude oil prices, fuelled by concerns over potential supply disruptions in the region, continue to offer support to the loonie. With geopolitical headlines dominating and liquidity still thin, the exchange rate is likely to remain sensitive to swings in risk appetite rather than domestic data in the near term.
A quick view of the CAD today against the USD and other major currencies.
| Pair | Rates | Daily | Ranges | ||
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In today’s daily FX spotlight, attention turns to the economic calendar and FX calendar, with US data taking centre stage in an otherwise light session. Markets will focus on Pending Home Sales and the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Business Index, both of which may influence near-term sentiment around the US dollar today by offering fresh insight into housing activity and regional manufacturing momentum. With no major domestic releases scheduled, price action in the Canadian dollar today is likely to be driven by external cues and broader risk sentiment, leaving CAD sensitive to any surprise in US data that could shift expectations around growth and policy direction.
| date | event | actual | consensus | previous |
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The latest Canadian dollar news points to a subdued and cautious tone, with the Canadian dollar rate today under mild pressure as a firmer US dollar and heightened global uncertainty weigh on sentiment. In the absence of major domestic data releases, the loonie is taking its lead from external drivers, particularly US housing and regional manufacturing indicators that are shaping broader risk appetite. While resilience in oil prices may help limit deeper losses, thin liquidity conditions suggest the Canadian dollar is more likely to drift near recent levels than establish a clear directional trend in the near term.