By MarketsFarm
WINNIPEG, Jan. 18 (MarketsFarm) – The Canadian dollar was lower on Monday morning as the United States dollar gained strength.
As of 8:47 CST, the Canadian dollar was at US$0.7829 or C$1.2772, compared to Friday’s close of US$0.7857 or C$1.2727.
On the U.S. Dollar Index, the greenback was up 0.101 at 90.855 points.
Benchmark crude oil prices were slightly lower on Monday morning, as the slow pace of vaccinations against COVID-19 weighed on values. China’s better than expected economic recovery limited those declines.
Brent crude oil was down five cents at US$55.05 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dipped one cent at US$52.35/barrel. However, Western Canadian Select (WCS) lost US$1.13 at US$41.66/barrel.
At the opening the TSX/S&P Composite Index was up 49.06 points at 17,909.03.
Gold was up US$3.50 at US$1,833.40 per ounce.
The U.S. markets are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.