The Canadian dollar strengthened to a near 5-week high against its U.S. counterpart on Monday as the prospect of U.S. trade tariffs grew less imminent and a Bank of Canada survey showed that firms are beginning to anticipate improved activity.

Trump was quoted saying his team was thinking of tariffs around 25% which could be announced on Feb. 1 but offered no other specifics.

Donald Trump sparked a bout of tumult in financial markets hours after his inauguration as he threatened to hit Mexico and Canada with big tariffs. Speaking in the Oval Office late on Monday, Trump said he could enact tariffs of 25 per cent against both countries as soon as February 1,