USDCAD Analysis

On the 9th of March 2023, the Bank of Canada (BoC) released its monetary policy decision to keep rates at 4.50%. In the accompanying statement, the BoC indicated that it expected pressures in product and labour markets to ease as inflation growth signaled a slowdown. It also highlighted that while the BoC was assessing the impact of past interest rate hikes, it would be ready to hike rates again if required to bring inflation down to the 2% target level.

The Candian Median CPI y/y is expected to be released at 4.8% (Previous 5.0%) while Trimmed CPI y/y is expected at 4.9% (Previous 5.1%). If the inflation data is released as expected or lower, this could see the Canadian dollar weaken briefly as the likelihood of future rate hikes from the BoC diminishes. However, the directional bias of the USDCAD would be heavily dependent on the volatility of the DXY.

As the USDCAD trades within a symmetrical triangle pattern, the release of the CPI data could see breakout potential in either direction. If the price trades higher beyond 1.3750 and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level could see the USDCAD resume with the uptrend to retest the key resistance level of 1.3860. Alternatively, if the CPI data signals increasing inflation growth, the USDCAD could break the support level of 1.3660 and trade significantly lower, down toward the 1.35 key support level, especially if the DXY continues to weaken.