By Glen Hallick
Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – The Canadian dollar was relatively steady on Friday morning, as small increases in the United States dollar and crude held each other in check.
As of 8:40 am CST, the loonie was at US$0.7266 or US$1=C$1.3761, compared to Thursday’s close of US$0.7260 or US$1=C$1.3774.
On the U.S. Dollar Index, the greenback nudged up 0.087 of a point at 98.175.
Benchmark crude oil prices were higher on Friday morning, due to rising U.S.-Venezuelan tensions and likelihood of more sanctions on Russia, while large global supplies limited the upswing.
West Texas Intermediate gained 35 cents at US$56.50 per barrel and Brent crude added 21 cents at US$60.03.
Statistics Canada reported on Friday that October retail sales dipped 0.2 per cent at C$69.4 billion.
In morning activity, the TSX/S&P Composite Index advanced 245.50 points at 31,686.35.
Gold was down US$5.50 at US$4,359.00 per ounce.
