Canadian Dollar declines after strong US inflation data reinforces hawkish Fed outlook
The Greenback extends its intraday advance after US inflation data came in hotter than expected. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% MoM in April after increasing 0.9% in March, in line with market expectations. On an annual basis, inflation accelerated to 3.8% from 3.3% previously, exceeding forecasts of 3.7%. Meanwhile, core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.4% MoM, up from 0.2% in March and above expectations of 0.3%. Annual core inflation climbed to 2.8% from 2.6%, also exceeding forecasts of 2.7%. The data pushed US Treasury yields higher and lifted the US Dollar Index (DXY) toward 98.40 as traders increased bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could keep borrowing costs elevated through year-end. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a rate hike at the September meeting currently stands near 13.5%, rising to around 32% for the December meeting. At the same time, stalled US-Iran peace negotiations are providing additional support to the US Dollar, with no near-term resolution in sight. US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that the ceasefire is “on massive life support.” However, gains in USD/CAD could be