TORONTO: The Canadian dollar weakened against its US counterpart on Friday, retaining this week's defensive bias as domestic data showed the economy stalled in February, offsetting a rebound in oil prices.
Canadian gross domestic product was flat in February, matching the forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll, after robust growth in January.
"It is a soft month in an otherwise solid quarter," said Derek Holt, head of capital markets economics at Scotiabank.
Oil prices rose after dropping to a one-month low the previous day, prompting investors to buy at cheaper levels ahead of a May Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting at which producers could extend output cuts.
At 9:01 a.m. ET (1301 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading at C$1.3653 to the greenback, or 73.24 US cents, weaker than Thursday's close of C$1.3624, or 73.40 US cents.
The currency traded in a range of C$1.3625 to C$1.3666.
On Thursday, the loonie touched a fresh 14-month low at C$1.3670. It is on course to fall 1.1 percent this week, pressured by recent weakening in oil prices and a more uncertain outlook for the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Canadian government bond prices were slightly lower across the yield curve in sympathy with US Treasuries. The two-year dipped 1.5 Canadian cents to yield 0.742 percent and the 10-year  declined 5.2 Canadian cents to yield 1.581 percent.
On Thursday, the 10-year yield touched a three-week high at 1.621 percent.
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