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 0.3% higher at C$1.3674 to the greenback, or 73.13 U.S. cents, after trading in a range of 1.3654 to 1.373.

Canadian government 10-year bond yields CA10YT=RR fell 7.1 basis points to 3.437%. The yield on similar U.S. government benchmark debt fell to 4.2219%.

U.S. April crude CLc1 futures fell $5.21 to settle at $93.5 a barrel on Monday.

Canadian housing starts in Februaryrose, but less than forecast, to 250,900 units from a revised 240,100 units the previous month, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said.

A survey of 8 economists polled by Reuters had forecast February housing starts rising to 252.5,000 units.

Canada's annual inflation rate eased to 1.8% in February, down from 2.3% in January, Statistics Canada said. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected an annual rate of 1.9%