Scotiabank says the Canadian Dollar lags G10 peers as yield spreads favour USD post Fed-BoC meetings

    by VT Markets
    /
    Mar 19, 2026
    The Canadian Dollar was little changed against the US Dollar in Thursday’s North American session, but it lagged most G10 currencies. This followed the Federal Reserve and Bank of Canada meetings, after which yield spreads moved further in favour of the US Dollar. Scotiabank’s fair value estimate for USD/CAD rose to 1.3498, linked to the change in yield spreads. The bank also described the Federal Reserve’s guidance as less dovish, which was associated with the widening spreads.

    Technical Momentum And Key Levels

    On technical indicators, USD/CAD was described as having a neutral-to-bullish bias, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) rising and pointing to stronger upward momentum. The bank kept a neutral stance below 1.3750, while noting the chance of a move above that level. A near-term trading range of 1.3700 to 1.3750 was outlined. Resistance was placed near the 200-day moving average at 1.3802. The article stated it was produced using an artificial intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. When we review the analysis from March 2025, the primary focus was on the diverging paths of the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada. The core idea was that differing central bank policies would push yield spreads in favor of the US dollar. This outlook has largely materialized over the past year.

    Derivative Strategy Ideas For Usd Cad Upside

    That policy gap became reality when the Bank of Canada initiated its rate-cutting cycle in June 2025, well ahead of the Fed’s first move. Currently, with Canadian inflation sitting near 2.1% and the US figure proving stickier at 2.7%, this divergence continues to drive the market. Consequently, the spread on 2-year government bonds has widened to over 60 basis points, providing a fundamental tailwind for USD/CAD. Given this backdrop, derivative traders should consider strategies that benefit from further USD/CAD strength. Buying call options on USD/CAD provides direct exposure to this expected upward movement. A more structured approach could involve a bullish call spread, such as buying a 1.3850 strike call and selling a 1.4000 strike call, to capitalize on a measured rally while defining risk. The neutral-to-bullish bias noted in the 2025 technical analysis now appears firmly bullish, with the previous 1.3750 resistance level acting as a new floor. For those anticipating a continued grind higher, long positions in USD/CAD futures contracts offer a straightforward way to participate. Alternatively, positioning through risk reversals could be an efficient way to fund long USD/CAD views. Create your live VT Markets account and start trading now.

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