TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's dollar fell against the U.S. currency on Thursday after domestic inflation data came in above expectations, but analysts predicted the Bank of Canada would keep interest rates unchanged for now.
The Canadian currency, which touched a near three-week low overnight, sagged to about C$1.0725 to the U.S. dollar, 93.24 U.S. cents, from around C$1.0718 to the U.S. dollar just before the data's release.
Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 1.0 percent in November from 0.1 percent in October, above the 0.8 percent analysts had expected, primarily due to higher gasoline prices, Statistics Canada said on Thursday. The core annual inflation rate -- closely watched by the Bank of Canada -- dropped to 1.5 percent from 1.8 percent in October.
There was "almost no reaction from the FX markets. It was slightly above expectations, but this will not alter the stance from the Bank of Canada's perspective and that is what the market would be more concerned about," said Matthew Strauss, senior currency strategist, RBC Capital Markets.
At 7:37 a.m. (1237 GMT), the Canadian dollar was at C$1.0715 to the U.S. dollar, or 93.33 U.S. cents, down from Wednesday's finish at C$1.0605 to the U.S. dollar, or 94.30 U.S. cents.
Overnight, the Canadian currency dropped to C$1.0739 to the U.S. dollar, or 93.12 U.S. cents, its lowest level since November 27.
The weakness was largely due to a broadly stronger U.S. dollar, which rose to a three-month high against a currency basket on Thursday as the euro slid on concerns about Greece's fiscal health.
Oil prices, a key Canadian export, dropped below $72 a barrel, while gold and base metals were also lower.
Canadian bond prices were largely flat at the short end but higher at the long end, following U.S. Treasuries up in Europe on Thursday, supported by the prospect of interest rates staying low for a long time and safe-haven flows.
