The Canadian dollar was down sharply on Friday amidst a miss of expectations for job creation in Canada last month. The dollar dropped 0.81 of one cent to end the day at 90.17 cents U.S. as it was reported that the Canadian economy shed over 7,000 jobs during February.
Economists looked for 15,000 positions to be added in February. The rate of unemployment stayed steady at 7%. The data for the U.S. was better where the economy in February added 175,000 new jobs, well above the estimate of 139,000. The rate of unemployment increased from 6.6% to 6.7% as more people in the U.S. looked for new work.
The news for Canada was better on the trade front. The government statistics center reported that the trade deficit in Canada with the world had narrowed in January to $177 million from December’s $922 million.
In the commodity markets, crude for April delivery in New York rose by $1.02 to reach a barrel price of $102.58.
The Canadian dollar also was down against copper and gold. Losses in gold picked up following a strong jobs report in the U.S. as bullion for April dropped by $13.60 to an ounce price of $1,338.20
May copper fell by 14 cents to just $3.07 per pound on growth concerns in China.
Analysts pointed to authorities in China allowing the country’s first default in a bond. Investors in bonds sold by Chaori Solar Energy in 2012 were paid only 3% of interest due on Friday.
They said that fuelled speculation that more companies might be in situations that are similar and what impact that could have negatively on the economy in China.
Some investors played it cautious before the weekend and due to the crisis in Russia and Ukraine.
