CANADA FX DEBT - Canadian dollar weakens, benchmark yield climbs

The Canadian dollar weakened against the greenback on Friday, and the yield on benchmark government debt climbed.

The loonie CAD= was trading 0.1% lower at C$1.3898 to the greenback, or 71.95 U.S. cents, after trading in a range of 1.3885 to 1.39.

Canadian government 10-year bond yields CA10YT=RR rose 1 basis points to 3.364%. The yield on similar U.S. government benchmark debt rose to 4.1873%.

U.S. February crude CLc1 futures rose 76 cents to $59.95 a barrel on Friday.

Canadian housing starts in December rose more than expected to 282,400 units from a revised 254,600 units the previous month, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said.

A survey of 9 economists polled by Reuters had forecast December housing starts rising to 260,000 units.