{"id":30738,"date":"2026-03-16T03:03:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T03:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/uncategorized\/30738\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T03:03:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T03:03:11","slug":"despite-weak-jobs-data-and-middle-east-tensions-the-canadian-dollar-strengthens-pushing-usd-cad-near-1-3710-early-in-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/live-updates\/30738\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite weak jobs data and Middle East tensions, the Canadian Dollar strengthens, pushing USD\/CAD near 1.3710 early in Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"USD\/CAD traded lower near 1.3710 in early Asian hours on Monday. Trading focus remained on developments in the Middle East, including any change in conditions around the Strait of Hormuz.\n\nUS President Donald Trump said he is discussing with other countries how to police the Strait of Hormuz. He also said Israel is working with the US on securing the shipping route.\n\n

Focus On Strait Of Hormuz<\/h3>\nThe UK, Japan, China, and South Korea said they are considering options, without commitments, after a request to send warships to the area. Continued conflict could support demand for the US Dollar against the Canadian Dollar.\n\nCanadian data added pressure on the Canadian Dollar. Statistics Canada reported that Canada lost 83,900 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.7%.\n\nOil market risks also remained in focus. Concerns about supply disruption could lift crude prices, which can support the Canadian Dollar because Canada is a major oil exporter.\n\nLooking back at 2025, we saw how tensions in the Strait of Hormuz created a tug-of-war on the USD\/CAD. A flight to the safe-haven US dollar was countered by rising oil prices, which typically supports the commodity-linked Canadian dollar. This fundamental conflict between a risk-off sentiment and higher crude prices creates significant uncertainty for the pair.\n\n

Options Strategies For Volatility<\/h3>\nToday, with WTI crude prices holding firm above $85 a barrel, the loonie should have a supportive floor. However, we have also seen recent domestic data showing Canada\u2019s unemployment rate has risen to 6.1%, which is weighing on the currency. This is very similar to the dynamic last year when weak employment figures, like the unexpected loss of 83,900 jobs in February 2025, capped any strength in the CAD.\n\nGiven these opposing pressures, traders should consider using options to trade the potential for a spike in volatility. Buying a straddle or a strangle on USD\/CAD allows a trader to profit from a large price swing in either direction without having to predict the catalyst. We are watching implied volatility levels, as a sharp increase would suggest the market is preparing for a decisive breakout.\n\nFor those with a directional view but who want to limit risk, option spreads are a prudent strategy. If we anticipate that concerns over global stability will ultimately drive funds into the US dollar, a bull call spread could capture upside in the pair while defining maximum loss. This provides a more measured approach than simply buying futures, especially with oil prices providing a constant headwind against a stronger USD\/CAD.\n\nCreate your live VT Markets account<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0start trading<\/a>\u00a0now. <\/b>\n

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Start trading now – Click here<\/a> to create your real VT Markets account <\/strong> <\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

USD\/CAD dips to 1.3710; Middle East tensions, Hormuz security talks, weak Canada jobs data pressure loonie.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-updates"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"josephine","author_link":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/author\/josephine\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30738\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarketsglobal.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}