By Commodity News Service Canada
WINNIPEG, May 19 – The Canadian dollar ended higher against
its US counterpart on Friday, taking strength from a supportive
retail sales report and gains in crude oil.
The value of retail sales in March rose 0.7% which exceeded
analysts’ expectations of 0.3%.
The Canadian dollar closed at US$0.7383 or C$1.3544,
compared to Thursday’s close of US$0.7347 or C$1.3611.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index finished strong on Friday,
recouping losses suffered earlier in the week.
Gains in metals and natural gas were supportive along with
advances in energy.
The index jumped 181.26 points, or 1.19%, to 15,458.46.
Canada’s agricultural sector performed as follows:
AGT Food and Ingredients—–up $ 0.50 at $ 25.76
Agrium Incorporated———-up $ 4.62 at $125.12
Buhler Industries————– $ 0.00 at $ 4.40
Maple Leaf Foods————-up $ 0.16 at $ 34.27
Potash Corp. of Sask———up $ 0.86 at $ 22.48
(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)
