How currency swings affect Canadian retailers, and where to learn the basics of forexTariff tensions between the US and Canada have kept the Canadian dollar swinging against the US dollar for much of this year, and that matters well beyond currency traders. A stronger Canadian dollar makes Canadian goods relatively more expensive for US shoppers, and a weaker one can make Canadian e-commerce more price-competitive south of the border, at least until shipping and tariffs are factored back in. Oil prices matter too, since the Canadian dollar has historically tracked energy exports closely enough to earn the nickname “petro-currency” among traders. The spot rate is the exchange rate for a currency exchanged immediately, and it is what most retailers see quoted day to day. Common questionsShould a small retailer bother hedging currency risk?