Glacier FarmMedia — The Canadian dollar was firmer on Friday, as markets reacted to the escalating tensions in the Middle East after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.
The Canadian dollar settled at US$0.7354 or US$1=C$1.3598, which was compares with Thursday’s close of US$0.7346 or US$1=C$1.3612.
Manufacturing sales in Canada were down for the third straight month in April, falling 2.8 per cent to C$69.6 billion, reported Statistics Canada. Wholesale trade in the country was also down, dropping 2.3 per cent at C$84.0 billion.
Crude oil was sharply higher, with West Texas crude oil up by 7.86 per cent at US$73.39 per barrel.
The TSX Composite Index lost 111.40 points to close at 26,504.35 points.
