USD CAD - FUNDAMENTAL DRIVERS

The Canadian dollar remains relatively weak against the greenback, as it continues to hover near its cyclical high. While many investors fear a tightening of global credit conditions, some believe that Canadian bank could face a very difficult environment due to their exposure to residential real estate in a much higher interest rate environment. Combined with weakening commodity prices, the short-term outlook does not support a stronger loonie. Yet Canadian banks continue to outperform their global counterparts due to a more rigid regulatory environment and strong population growth, both of which argue against a dramatic erosion of their deposit base. USD/CAD should remain in the 1.36/1.39 range in the first half of 2023, before making a comeback in the second half of the year when more central banks finally end their tightening cycle.