1. Manufacturing Sales: Wednesday, 12:30.  This is the first key indicator of the week. Manufacturing Sales declined 0.2% in February, its weakest reading since October 2016. The markets are expecting a rebound in March, with an estimate of 0.4%.
  2. Foreign Securities Purchases:  Thursday, 12:30. The indicator soared in February to C$38.84 billion, crushing the reading of C$5.21 billion. Will we see another strong reading in March?
  3. CPI:  Friday, 12:30.  CPI is the primary gauge of consumer inflation. In March, the index remained at 02%, missing the estimate of 0.4%. The markets are predicting a stronger gain in April, with an estimate of 0.5%.
  4. Core Retail Sales:  Friday, 12:30. In February, the indicator posted its second decline in three months, with a small decline of 0.1%. The estimate for March stands at 0.2%.
  5. Retail Sales:  Friday, 12:30. Retail Sales posted a decline of 0.6% in February, lower than the estimate of 0.0%. The markets are expecting better news in March, with a forecast of a 0.3% gain.

USD/CAD Technical Analysis

USD/CAD opened the week at 1.3669 and quickly dropped to a low of 1.3643, testing support at 1.3648 (discussed last week). Late in the week, the pair climbed to a high of 1.3770.  USD/CAD closed the week at 1.3702.

Technical lines, from top to bottom

We begin with resistance at 1.4019. This line has held since February 2016.

The round number of 1.39 is next.

1.3757 is an immediate resistance line.

1.3648 is an immediate support line.

1.3551 is next.

1.3457 was a high point in September 2015.

1.3351 has held in support since mid-April.

1.3212 is the final support level for now.

I am bullish on USD/CAD

US numbers have softened, as underscored by March’s disappointing CPI and retail sales reports. Still, the Fed is expected to raise rates two more times in 2017, although there is some doubt about a June hike.

Our latest podcast is titled  Brexit bites the BOE, volatility evaporates

Follow us on Sticher or iTunes

Safe trading!

Further reading: