Euro Rises vs CAD as Oil Slips and Inflation Softens

Key Moments

EUR/CAD Supported as Oil-Linked CAD Loses Momentum

EUR/CAD was edging higher during European trading on Wednesday, hovering near 1.5960 after a modest pullback in the previous session. The cross remained underpinned as the Canadian Dollar faced headwinds from declining oil prices. Canada is a major global oil producer and exporter, shipping the majority of its crude to the United States, so shifts in oil prices directly influence the country’s export income and terms of trade.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude paused its four-session advance and was trading around $102.80 per barrel at the time of writing. Despite ongoing concerns over supply, crude prices remained under pressure following the latest comments from US President Donald Trump about potentially resuming military action against Iran within two or three days to secure a deal to end the war, after a short pause prompted by a new proposal from Tehran.

Canadian Inflation Rises, but Below Forecasts

On Tuesday, Statistics Canada reported that headline inflation accelerated to 2.8% year-on-year in April, up from 2.4% in March, with the move largely driven by higher gasoline prices. The outcome, however, fell short of market expectations of 3.1%.

On a monthly basis, overall consumer prices increased 0.4%, slowing from a 0.9% gain in the prior month. At the same time, the Bank of Canada’s preferred core inflation measures cooled, reinforcing the central bank’s assessment that energy-led price pressures could eventually diminish. This easing in underlying inflation helped temper broader market concerns about the need for additional domestic interest rate increases from the Bank of Canada (BoC).

ECB Signals Heightened Hawkishness

Upside in EUR/CAD could face constraints, but the Euro has drawn some support from more hawkish signaling by European Central Bank policymakers. ECB Governing Council member Martin Kocher stated that a June rate increase would be unavoidable if the Hormuz Strait remains shut, warning that a prolonged conflict would significantly drive eurozone inflation higher. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel expressed a similar view, saying that the ECB is shifting away from its baseline outlook and suggesting that action might be necessary in June.

A Reuters poll conducted between May 8 and May 13 showed that 85% of surveyed economists – 59 out of 70 respondents – anticipated that the ECB would raise its key deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.25% at its June meeting. This represents a notable increase in hawkish expectations compared with the mood before the April policy decision.

Canadian Dollar: Key Macro Drivers

The Canadian Dollar is influenced by multiple fundamental factors, including monetary policy decisions by the Bank of Canada, the trajectory of oil prices, domestic economic performance, inflation, and the trade balance – the gap between the value of exports and imports. Market sentiment also plays a role: periods characterized as “risk-on” tend to favor the CAD, while “risk-off” environments usually weigh on the currency. Conditions in the US economy are particularly important, given the close trade relationship between the two countries.

Monetary Policy and the BoC’s Role

The Bank of Canada exerts a strong influence over the CAD through its policy rate, which affects borrowing costs across the economy. The BoC aims to keep inflation within a 1-3% range by adjusting rates higher or lower as needed. In general, comparatively higher interest rates tend to support the Canadian Dollar. The central bank can also deploy quantitative easing or tightening to manage financial conditions, with asset purchases typically weighing on the CAD and balance sheet reduction tending to support it.

Oil Prices and the Canadian Dollar

Oil prices are a central driver of the Canadian Dollar because petroleum is Canada’s largest export. Movements in crude prices often translate quickly into changes in demand for CAD: rising oil prices are usually associated with a stronger Canadian Dollar, while falling prices tend to have the opposite effect. Higher crude prices also increase the likelihood of a positive trade balance, which can further bolster the currency.

Inflation, Economic Data, and Currency Performance

In the current environment of liberalized capital flows, higher inflation often leads central banks to raise interest rates, which can draw in foreign capital seeking higher returns and thereby support the local currency. For Canada, stronger inflation can therefore be associated with a firmer CAD if it prompts tighter BoC policy.

Broader macroeconomic indicators – such as GDP growth, manufacturing and services PMIs, labor market data, and consumer sentiment – also shape the Canadian Dollar’s outlook. Solid economic readings tend to attract foreign investment and can encourage the BoC to consider higher rates, both of which are generally CAD-supportive. Conversely, weaker data typically puts downward pressure on the currency.