- USD/CAD slumps to near 1.4360 as the US Dollar corrects mildly after a robust rally.
- The Fed sees two interest rate cuts in 2025 amid strong economic growth.
- The US economy expanded at a faster pace of 3.1% in the third quarter of the year, slower than the preliminary estimate of 2.8%.
The USD/CAD pair falls sharply to near 1.4360 in Thursday’s North American session after posting a fresh more than four-year high at 1.4467. The Loonie pair slumps as the US Dollar (USD) bulls take a breather after a stalwart rally. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, corrects after refreshing two-year high near 108.25.
The Greenback rallies on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve (Fed) signaled fewer interest rate cuts for 2025 in the monetary policy meeting in which it reduced its key borrowing rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.25%-4.50%. According to the Fed’s dot ploy, policymakers see Federal Fund rates heading to 3.9% by the end of 2025.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell guided a cautious approach on interest rate cuts amid uncertainty over inflation, easing downside risks to employment and strong growth in the second-half of the year.
On the economic front, second estimate for the Q3 United States (US) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data has shown that the economy rose at a faster pace of 3.1% than the preliminary estimate of 2.8%. Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending December 16 have come in lower at 220K than estimates of 230K and the former release of 242K.
Meanwhile, the outlook of the Canadian Dollar (CAD) remains bearish as the Bank of Canada (BoC) is expected to ease its interest rates further amid growing risks of inflation undershooting the bank’s target of 2%.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD extends slide toward 1.0300, touches new two-year low
EUR/USD stays under bearish pressure and trades at its lowest level since December 2022 below 1.0350 on Thursday. The pair turned south amid a resurgent US Dollar demand and worsening market mood. Investors stay cautious at the onset of 2025, awaiting the US jobs data for fresh incentives.
GBP/USD slumps to multi-month lows below 1.2450
Following an earlier recovery attempt, GBP/USD reversed its direction and declined to its weakest level in nearly eight months below 1.2450. The renewed US Dollar (USD) strength on worsening risk mood weighs on the pair as markets await mid-tier data releases.
Gold benefits from risk aversion, climbs above $2,640
Gold gathers recovery momentum and trades at a two-week-high above $2,640 heading into the American session on Thursday. The precious metal benefits from the sour market mood and the pullback seen in the US Treasury bond yields.
XRP rockets 11% as Bitcoin starts New Year with bullish bang
Crypto majors zoomed higher in the past 24 hours as the market entered a widely expected bullish year, with Bitcoin inching above $95,000 to shake off losses from last week. XRP surged 11% to lead growth among majors as of Thursday, led by $1.3 billion worth of trading volumes on Korea-focused exchange UpBit.
Three Fundamentals: Year-end flows, Jobless Claims and ISM Manufacturing PMI stand out Premium
Money managers may adjust their portfolios ahead of the year-end. Weekly US Jobless Claims serve as the first meaningful release in 2025. The ISM Manufacturing PMI provides an initial indication ahead of Nonfarm Payrolls.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.