zombola
02-22-2015, 02:29 PM
The Canadian dollar is again back below 80 cents Friday, with a report showing Canada's contribution to the worldwide oil glut.
The loonie was trading at 79.82 US cents in late afternoon, down about a fifth of a cent from yesterday.
It moved lower on data about slowing retail sales in December and a worsening picture in the oil sector.
The Canadian Energy Research Institute reported Thursday that Canadian oil output would grow by 3.5 per cent this year, despite lower oil prices.
Canada is contributing to a global glut of oil that has driven prices from the $100 US a barrel level last year to the $50 US level today, the report said.
There have been numerous reports of reduced capital spending in the oilpatch, but output is still rising. It takes a long time to develop new oil projects, particularly oilsands projects and companies are reluctant to slow current production.
The CERI estimates oil would have to stay at the $30 to $35 a barrel level for at least six months before producers shut down existing wells and mines. That’s because a lower dollar and declining labour costs are making Canadian oil production more viable, it said.
Oil prices, stocks down
Oil prices moved lower on Friday, with the West Texas Intermediate contract traded in New York down 56 cents to $50.60 US a barrel at mid-afternoon. That wipes out gains made over the last week. Brent crude, the most common international contract, was trading at $60.36 US a barrel.
Toronto stocks fell on the lower oil prices and disappointing retail sales. The TSX index was down 49 points at 15,131.
A Statistics Canada report released Friday showed December retail sales were down two per cent, with lower gas prices accounting for only part of the drop. There were signs that consumers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are holding back on spending as they worried about the impact of lower oil prices.
Investors were also watching the EU’s attempts to reach a debt deal with Greece, which resumed at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers today.
The meeting is the third among finance ministers from the 19-nation eurozone in just over a week. In the short term, if no solution is found, Greece could be left to handle its debts alone from next month.
U.S. stocks bounced higher at a report that the group may be near a deal.
The Dow is trading up 110 points at 18,095, just shy of its record of 18,103 set in late December. The S&P 500 index also was in record territory, up seven points at 2104.
cbc.ca
The loonie was trading at 79.82 US cents in late afternoon, down about a fifth of a cent from yesterday.
It moved lower on data about slowing retail sales in December and a worsening picture in the oil sector.
The Canadian Energy Research Institute reported Thursday that Canadian oil output would grow by 3.5 per cent this year, despite lower oil prices.
Canada is contributing to a global glut of oil that has driven prices from the $100 US a barrel level last year to the $50 US level today, the report said.
There have been numerous reports of reduced capital spending in the oilpatch, but output is still rising. It takes a long time to develop new oil projects, particularly oilsands projects and companies are reluctant to slow current production.
The CERI estimates oil would have to stay at the $30 to $35 a barrel level for at least six months before producers shut down existing wells and mines. That’s because a lower dollar and declining labour costs are making Canadian oil production more viable, it said.
Oil prices, stocks down
Oil prices moved lower on Friday, with the West Texas Intermediate contract traded in New York down 56 cents to $50.60 US a barrel at mid-afternoon. That wipes out gains made over the last week. Brent crude, the most common international contract, was trading at $60.36 US a barrel.
Toronto stocks fell on the lower oil prices and disappointing retail sales. The TSX index was down 49 points at 15,131.
A Statistics Canada report released Friday showed December retail sales were down two per cent, with lower gas prices accounting for only part of the drop. There were signs that consumers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are holding back on spending as they worried about the impact of lower oil prices.
Investors were also watching the EU’s attempts to reach a debt deal with Greece, which resumed at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers today.
The meeting is the third among finance ministers from the 19-nation eurozone in just over a week. In the short term, if no solution is found, Greece could be left to handle its debts alone from next month.
U.S. stocks bounced higher at a report that the group may be near a deal.
The Dow is trading up 110 points at 18,095, just shy of its record of 18,103 set in late December. The S&P 500 index also was in record territory, up seven points at 2104.
cbc.ca