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USD/CAD Advance Vulnerable to Upbeat Bank of Canada (BoC)
DailyFX.com -
- Bank of Canada (BoC) to Keep Benchmark Interest Rate on Hold for Third-Consecutive Meeting.
- Will Governor Stephen Poloz Continue to Highlight an Improved Outlook?
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Trading the News: Bank of Canada Interest Rate Decision
The Bank of Canada (BoC) interest rate decision may boost the appeal of the loonie and spur a pullback in USD/CAD should the central bank adopt a more hawkish tone for monetary policy.
What’s Expected:
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Why Is This Event Important:
Expectations for a stronger recovery may encourage BoC Governor Stephen Poloz to highlight an improved outlook for the region, and the central bank may show a greater willingness to move away from its wait-and-see approach as it anticipates the positive dynamics underling the real economy to ‘reassert themselves during the second quarter, and to do so clearly in the second half of the year.’
Expectations: Bullish Argument/Scenario
Release | Expected | Actual |
Retail Sales (MoM) (MAR) | 0.3% | 0.7% |
Unemployment Rate (APR) | 6.9% | 6.8% |
Ivey Purchasing Manager Index s.a. (APR) | 49.2 | 58.2 |
The BoC may release a more hawkish statement amid the pickup in private-sector activity, and a material shift in the forward-guidance may produce a near-term correction in USD/CAD as market participants boost the interest rate outlook.
Risk: Bearish Argument/Scenario
Release | Expected | Actual |
Consumer Price Index (YoY) (APR) | 1.0% | 0.8% |
New Housing Price Index (YoY) (MAR) | 1.3% | 1.2% |
International Merchandise Trade (MAR) | -0.80B | -3.02B |
However, slowing inflation paired with the weakness in global trade may push the BoC to largely retain its current policy throughout 2015, and the Canadian dollar may continue to underperform against its U.S. counterpart should Governor Poloz endorse a neutral stance for monetary policy.
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How To Trade This Event Risk(Video)
Bullish CAD Trade: BoC Turns Increasingly Upbeat & Adopts Hawkish Tone
Need red, five-minute candle following the rate decision for a potential short USD/CAD trade.
If market reaction favors a bullish loonie trade, sell USD/CAD with two separate position.
Set stop at the near-by swing high/reasonable distance from entry; look for at least 1:1 risk-to-reward.
Move stop to breakeven on remaining position once initial target is met, set reasonable limit.
Bearish CAD Trade: Governor Poloz Endorses Wait-and-See Approach
Need green, five-minute candle to consider a long USD/CAD position.
Carry out the same setup as the bullish Canadian dollar trade, just in reverse.
Read More:
USD/JPY Marks First Overbought Signal in 2015; Retail Turns Net-Short
USDCAD Scalps Faces 1.25 Key Resistance Ahead of BoC, GDP
Potential Price Targets For The Release
USD/CAD Daily
Chart - Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0
Despite the move back above former support around 1.2360 (38.2% retracement) to 1.2380 (50% retracement), need a break of the triangle/wedge formation carried over from March to favor a resumption of the long-term bullish trend.
DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI) shows retail crowd remains net-short USD/CAD since May 22, with the ratio currently sitting at -1.40.
Interim Resistance: 1.2480 (61.8% retracement) to 1.2500 pivot (trendline resistance)
Interim Support: 1.2110 (61.8% retracement) to 1.2130 (23.6% retracement)
Impact that the BOC Interest Rate decision has had on CAD during the last meeting
Period | Data Released | Estimate | Actual | Pips Change (1 Hour post event ) | Pips Change (End of Day post event) |
APR 2015 | 04/15/2015 14:00 GMT | 0.75% | 0.75% | -108 | -245 |
April 2015 Bank of Canada(BOC) Interest Rate Decision
As expected, the Bank of Canada (BoC) kept the benchmark rate unchanged at 0.75% in April. Despite the neutral stance, BoC Governor Stephen Poloz appears to be turning increasingly optimistic towards the region as the central bank head looks through the recent weakness in the real economy and anticipates a stronger recovery in the second-quarter of 2015. The Canadian Dollar strengthened following the less-dovish statement, with USD/CAD slipping below the 1.2300 handle to end the day at 1.2273.
--- Written by David Song, Currency Analyst and Shuyang Ren
To contact David, e-mail dsong@dailyfx.com. Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.
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