By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, April 26 The Canadian dollar was slightly firmer compared to its US counterpart Friday morning, amid improving risk sentiment, analysts said.
At 8:45 CDT Friday, the Canadian dollar was at US$0.9806 or US$=C$1.0198, which compares with Thursday’s North American close of US$0.9796 or US$=C$1.0208.
The Canadian dollar was firmer, despite weaker than expected gross domestic product (GDP) data from the US, Canada’s biggest trading partner. According to the US government, the country’s GDP increased 2.5% in the first quarter of 2013, below expectations of a 3% jump.
Statistics Canada reported Friday morning that eight provinces and all of the territories saw GDP increases in 2012. Nationally, real GDP rose 1.8% in 2012, from a 2.6% increase in 2011, StatsCan said.
The TSX was down 34.82 points, or 0.28%, at 8:45 CDT Friday morning to sit at 12,294.69.
