USD/CAD PRICE ANALYSIS: FACES PRESSURE AROUND 1.3500 ON SUBDUED US DOLLAR

• USD/CAD struggles to extend recovery above 1.3500 amid weak US Dollar.
• Cooling US labor market conditions indicate that Fed rate cut bets for June remain on the table.
• Slower Canada’s wage growth indicates that the inflation outlook is softening.

The USD/CAD pair faces pressure while attempting to extend recovery above the psychological resistance of 1.3500 in the European session on Monday. The Loonie asset is expected to resume its downside journey as the broader appeal for the US Dollar remains weak due to firm market expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) reducing interest rates in the June policy meeting.

The United States Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report for February, released on Friday, indicated that the Unemployment Rate rose to 3.9%, highest in two years, though in a comfortable range and monthly wage growth was significantly slower. On the contrary, labor demand remains robust as employers hired 275K workers against expectations of 200K.

Going forward, the US Dollar will be guided by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for February, which will be published on Tuesday and will provide fresh insights into the interest rate outlook.

On the Canadian Dollar front, slower wage growth has softened the inflation outlook. Annual Average Hourly Earnings grew at a significantly slower pace of 4.9% in February from a 5.3% increase in January. This could allow Bank of Canada (BoC) policymakers to consider reducing interest rates ahead.

USD/CAD trades in a Rising Channel chart pattern on a daily timeframe. The chart formation exhibits an upside bias with moderate strength, and market participants consider each pullback a buying opportunity. Near-term demand remains downbeat as the Loonie asset is trading below the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which trades around 1.3510.

The 14-period Relative Strength Index (RSI) oscillates inside the 40.00-60.00 range, indicating indecisiveness among market participants.

Fresh upside would appear if the asset breaks above January 17 high at 1.3542, which will drive the asset towards February 13 high at 1.3586, followed by the round-level resistance of 1.3600.