Last week, the Canadian Dollar traded at 94 cents against the USD, its highest level in over 30 years. This event is even more unbelievable considering the Loonie’s all time low against the USD occurred less than five years ago, in 2002.  Now, many analysts are cautiously optimistic that the Loonie will be trading at parity with the USD by year-end, and perhaps continue appreciating past that point.  Rising natural resources prices and a strong economy may drive Canada’s Central Bank to raise interest rates, at the same time that its neighbor to the south is contemplating lower rates.  However, not all analysts are quite so optimistic. The Associated Press reports:

But with an expected dampening in the industrial and manufacturing sector on its way, other analysts predict the Canadian dollar will start to weaken because commodity prices will pull back a bit and Canada’s economy may start to struggle because of the strength of the loonie.

Read More: Canadian dollar no longer ‘a weakling’