Canadian dollar hits two-week low as geopolitics offsets jobs gain

By Fergal Smith

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened to a more-than two-week low against its U.S. counterpart on Friday as geopolitical risk rattled global financial markets, offsetting stronger-than-expected domestic jobs data.

At 9:22 a.m. EDT (1322 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading 0.3 percent lower at C$1.3084 to the greenback, or 76.43 U.S. cents. The currency's strongest level of the session was C$1.3033, while it touched its weakest since July 25 at C$1.3122.

Canada unexpectedly added 54,100 jobs in July and the unemployment rate dipped to equal a record low 5.8 percent.

"Canadian labour markets continue to generate jobs at a pretty good pace that will support growth in the economy," said Paul Ferley, assistant chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada.

But analysts said the data were weaker than they appeared, due to a drop in full-time jobs and slower wage growth. They played down talk of another interest rate hike from the Bank of Canada as soon as next month.

The central bank tightened in July for the fourth time in a year. Its benchmark interest rate is at 1.50 percent.

Chances of a rate hike in September were little changed at about 25 percent after the data, the overnight index swaps market showed.

"The loonie failed to gain momentum from that economic indicator release given the current geopolitical climate." Alfonso Esparza, a senior currency analyst at OANDA, said in a research note.

A plunging Turkish lira rattled global markets due to concerns over the country's economy and a deepening rift with the United States.

Canada exports many commodities and runs a current account deficit so its economy could be hurt if the flow of trade or capital slows.

U.S. crude oil futures were up 0.60 percent at $67.21 a barrel, cutting their decline for the week. Oil is one of Canada's major exports.

Canadian government bond prices were mixed across the yield curve, with the two-year down 1 Canadian cent to yield 2.121 percent and the 10-year rising 2 Canadian cents to yield 2.331 percent.

The gap between Canada's 2-year yield and its U.S. counterpart narrowed by 3 basis points to a spread of 50.8 basis points in favor of the U.S. bond, its narrowest since May 31.

(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Nick Zieminski)