North American Summary and Highlights 7 Nov
Overview - USD/CAD fell on strong Canadian employment data. A weak Michigan CSI provided some weight on the USD but was offset as equites saw a late recovery on hopes for an end to the government shutdown.
North American session
Canada reported much stronger than expected October employment data, with a rise of 66.6k with unemployment falling to 6.9% from 7.1%. USD/CAD fell to 1.4050 from 1.4120, the move extending in late trade as equities erased earlier losses as a Democratic proposal raised hopes that an end to the government shutdown was approaching. AUD/USD, after slipping to .6470, recovered to .6490.
A weak preliminary November Michigan CSI of 50.3 from 53.6 provided some weight on the USD, but the negative from this was largely erased with the late equity recovery. EUR/USD returned to near 1.1560 after rising above 1.1580 while USD/JPY picked up to 153.50 from near 153. EUR/GBP slipped back below .88 while EUR/CHF was steady near .9310.
European morning session
The USD moved slightly lower through a quiet European morning session. The EUR and SEK were the best performers, with the EUR gaining 20 pips against the USD to 1.1550 and the SEK kept pace. GBP underperformed, as GBP/USD slipped 10 pips lower to 1.3105, even though UK yields were generally a little higher. USD/JPY, USD/CHF and USD/CAD all lost around 0.1%, while AUD/USD was little changed.
Datawise there was little of note. French and German trade data both showed stronger than expected imports leading to a smaller German surplus and a larger French deficit than expected.