* Loonie touches its weakest level since April 7 at
1.3925
* Price of oil declines 3.8%
* Bond yields ease across the curve
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, June 4 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar steadied
near an earlier eight-week low against its U.S. counterpart on
Thursday as the price of oil fell and ahead of domestic jobs
data that could help guide expectations for an upcoming Bank of
Canada interest rate decision.
The loonie was trading nearly unchanged at 1.3895 per
U.S. dollar, or 71.97 U.S. cents, after touching its weakest
intraday level since April 7 at 1.3925.
"Weak domestic fundamentals and lingering trade uncertainty
mean that the CAD is not master of its own destiny at the
moment," Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret, strategists at
Scotiabank, said in a note. "External developments will remain a
strong influence on price action."
The price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, was
trading 3.8% lower at $92.41 a barrel on investor hopes for an
end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that could lead to a
reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. dollar
gave back some recent gains against a basket of major
currencies.
Canada's dollar will strengthen over the coming year so long as
the domestic economy recovers and progress is made in the review
of a continental trade pact, a Reuters poll showed.
Domestic employment data, due on Friday, is expected to show
the economy adding 10,000 jobs last month and the unemployment
rate holding steady at 6.9%, its highest level since October.
Investors expect the Bank of Canada to leave its benchmark
interest rate on hold at 2.25% for a fifth straight policy
decision next Wednesday, swap market data showed.
Canadian bond yields moved lower across the curve, tracking
moves in U.S. Treasuries. The 10-year was down 1.5
basis points at 3.420%.