CANADA FX DEBT - Canadian dollar strengthens, benchmark yield slips

The Canadian dollar strengthened against the greenback on Monday, and the yield on benchmark government debt slipped.

The loonie CAD= was trading 0% higher at C$1.3767 to the greenback, or 72.64 U.S. cents, after trading in a range of 1.3748 to 1.3777.

Canadian government 10-year bond yields CA10YT=RR fell 3 basis points to 3.413%. The yield on similar U.S. government benchmark debt fell to 4.1723%.

U.S. January crude CLc1 futures fell 38 cents to $57.06 a barrel on Monday.

Canadian factory sales fell 1.0% in October from the previous month, Statistics Canada said. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected factory sales to drop 1.1%.

Canadian housing starts in November rose more than expected to 254,100 units from a revised 232,200 units the previous month, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said.

A survey of 7 economists polled by Reuters had forecast November housing starts rising to 250,000 units.

Canada's annual inflation rate remained at 2.2% in November, holding steady from 2.2% in October, Statistics Canada said. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected an annual rate of 2.3%