Strong Data Boosts Commodity Currencies

Canada on the other hand reported a firm rise in employment for the month of February and an unexpected increase in the trade surplus for the month of January.  The Canadian economy has been performing very well and we are finally seeing that filter into loonie strength.  In the week ahead, labor productivity, manufacturing shipments and capacity utilization are the only pieces of CAD data on the calendar.  Australia will be reporting business confidence, labor market data and consumer inflation expectations.  New Zealand has house prices, the Manpower survey and retail sales on the docket.