WINNIPEG – The Canadian dollar stepped back below 73 United States cents to begin the week.
The loonie was at US$0.7289 or US$1=C$1.3719 on Monday morning, lower than Friday’s close of US$0.7302 or US$1=C$1.3695. The U.S. Dollar Index was only down 0.02 of a point at 106.15.
Crude oil prices were down as talks over hostage releases were said to delay a ground invasion by Gaza on Israel. Brent crude oil was down US$0.86 at US$91.30 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost US$0.97 at US$87.11/barrel.
The TSX/S&P Composite Index shed 123.43 points at 18,992.21.
Gold retreated US$3.90 at US$1,990.50 per ounce.
