07:38 AM EST, 01/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will release housing starts data for December at 8:15 a.m. ET Friday, noted Bank of Montreal (BMO).

The bank said housing starts are expected to pull back to 250,000 after a strong 262,000 prior-month reading. That would leave full-year starts at 246,000, little changed from 2023 despite the ongoing push for new supply.

While more purpose-built rental stock continues to break ground, private corners of the market -- for example, condos -- have pulled back alongside weaker market conditions and little investor appetite, stated BMO.

Investors will also hear from Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Toni Gravelle at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, added Scotiabank. The topic: Managing the Bank of Canada's balance sheet.

As the world zeros in on Donald Trump's presidential inauguration on Monday, and Canadian policymakers band together to prepare a set of retaliatory measures to any tariff action, the Canadian dollar (CAD or loonie) is holding its ground for now, according to the bank. The currency starts Thursday at $1.438/USD (69.6 US cents).