By Fergal Smith
TORONTO (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar is expected to rally further over the coming year as a global economic recovery takes hold, and the gains could accelerate if investors perceive the Bank of Canada is preparing to reduce monetary stimulus, strategists say.
The median forecast of nearly 40 analysts in a Reuters poll was for the loonie to strengthen 1% to 1.27 per U.S. dollar, or 78.74 U.S. cents, in three months, matching the forecast in January’s poll. It is then expected to gain to 1.25 in one year.
“Global reflation and commodity price support are very likely this year and hence CAD direction is clear – the pace is the only debate,” said Derek Halpenny, head of research, global markets EMEA and international securities, at MUFG Bank.
Canada is a major producer of commodities, including oil, which has climbed about 17% since the start of January. It reached a one-year high on Friday above $56 a barrel as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies decided to stick to output cuts.
Economists in a Reuters poll forecast last month that global growth would rise 5.3% this year after shrinking 3.9% in 2020, helped by COVID-19 vaccine breakthroughs and accommodative monetary policies.
The Bank of Canada has indicated it will hold its benchmark interest rate at a record low of 0.25% until 2023, but money markets have been pricing in the chance of an earlier increase.
“I don’t see rates moving higher this year but (BoC) communications could fuel expectations that help provide more support for CAD than we currently assume,” Halpenny said.
Strategists say the central bank could reduce the pace of its quantitative-easing purchases in the coming months. It owns nearly 40% of government bonds outstanding, up from 14% at the beginning of last year.
Analysts at Monex Europe and Monex Canada, including Simon Harvey, expect a “sustained rally” for the loonie, which has strengthened about 13% since last March as the U.S. dollar declined.[EUR/POLL]
Still, there are risks to the outlook, the analysts say in a note, including struggles delivering COVID-19 vaccines and a U.S. effort to ensure federal agencies buy American-produced goods.
Canada will succeed in inoculating its population despite “momentary disruptions” in the supply of vaccines and is working closely with the new U.S. administration to fight the disease, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Reuters on Thursday.
Last week, Trudeau said that Canada will seek exemptions to U.S. President Joe Biden’s “Buy American” program. Canada sends about 75% of its exports to the United States.
(For other stories from the February Reuters foreign exchange poll:)
(Reporting by Fergal Smith; polling by Tushar Goenka and Swathi Nair; editing by Larry King)
