* Loonie touches strongest since February 2018 at 1.2266
* For the month, loonie on track to gain 2.3%
* Canadian GDP rises 0.4% in February
* Canadian bond yields ease across the curve
TORONTO, April 30 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar steadied
against a broadly stronger U.S. counterpart on Friday as data
showed growth in Canada's economy, with the loonie holding near
a three-year high and on track to advance in April, a seasonally
strong month for the currency.
The Canadian economy grew by 0.4% in February as retail
trade rebounded after lockdown measures were eased across parts
of the country, Statistics Canada said. A flash estimate showed
GDP jumping 0.9% in March.
The data supported the Bank of Canada's more hawkish stance.
Last week, the central bank signaled that it could start hiking
rates next year and cut the pace of its bond purchases.
The Canadian dollar was trading nearly unchanged at
1.2275 to the greenback, or 81.47 U.S. cents. It touched its
strongest intraday level since February 2018 at 1.2266.
For the month, the loonie was on track to gain 2.3%. It has
advanced in eight of the last 10 Aprils.
The price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, was
pressured by wider lockdowns in India and Brazil to curb the
COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. crude prices fell 2.1% to $63.63 a barrel, while
the U.S. dollar was on course to narrowly avoid a fourth
straight weekly decline against a basket of major peers, as
analysts said profit-taking on dollar short positions was
helping lift the currency.
Canadian government bond yields eased across the curve, with
the 10-year down nearly one basis points at 1.557%.
On Thursday, it touched its highest intraday in more than four
weeks at 1.611%.
(Reporting by Fergal Smith
Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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