The Canadian dollar has posted small losses in the Wednesday session. Currently, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3126, up 0.12% on the day. On the release front, Canada’s GDP is expected to slip to a flat 0.0% and Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz continues his testimony on Parliament Hill. In the U.S, ADP nonfarm payrolls is expected to drop sharply to 188 thousand. The indicator kicks off a host of employment releases, highlighted by wage growth and nonfarm payrolls on Friday.
A black October for the stock markets has badly shaken investor confidence, which has translated into softer demand for minor currencies like the Canadian dollar. The currency has slipped 1.73% in October, despite a Bank of Canada rate hike last week. At the forefront of geopolitical tensions is the trade war between the U.S and its major partners, particularly with China. Tensions between the world’s two largest economies show no signs of easing, and the Trump administration continues to threaten further severe tariffs on China. The U.S has also imposed steel tariffs on its two neighbors, Canada and Mexico. On Monday, Mexico’s deputy commerce minister said that Mexico would not sign the new USMCA pact, which replaces NAFTA, unless the U.S agreed to remove the tariffs against Mexico and Canada. We’ll get a look at Canadian GDP for August on Wednesday, which could be a market-mover. The economy expanded 0.2% in July, and the markets will be hoping for a stronger gain on Wednesday.
