Synopsis:
ANZ sees Canadian dollar positioning stabilizing as broad USD longs unwind. While CAD remains vulnerable on EUR and CHF crosses, it may offer relative resilience versus AUD and NZD in a deteriorating risk environment.
Key Points:
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Positioning shift: Net long USD/CAD positions have declined to their lowest level since March 2024, reflecting a broader turn away from USD longs.
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Modest USD/CAD upside: A modest rebound into the low 1.40s is possible if tariff tensions escalate or risk sentiment deteriorates.
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Cross pressure: CAD is likely to underperform versus EUR and CHF, due to its strong correlation with USD on G10 crosses.
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Tactical long CAD setups: CAD could outperform AUD and NZD in risk-off growth environments, where AUD/CAD and NZD/CAD tend to fall sharply.
Conclusion:
While the CAD remains under cross-pressure, particularly versus European currencies, ANZ sees strategic long CAD opportunities on AUD and NZD crosses in the event of renewed risk aversion or global growth fears.