CANADA FX DEBT - Canadian dollar strengthens, benchmark yield climbs

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

The loonie was trading 0.2% higher at C$1.3658 to the greenback, or 73.22 U.S. cents, after trading in a range of 1.3655 to 1.3711.

Canadian government 10-year bond yields rose 2.6 basis points to 3.738%. The yield on similar U.S. government benchmark debt rose to 4.4763%.

U.S. January crude futures fell 97 cents to $76.13 a barrel on Friday.

Canadian retail sales rose 0.6% in November from September. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected retail sales to be flat.Excluding autos. retail sales rose 0.2% in November, Statistics Canada said. Analysts had forecast November sales, excluding autos, to be down 0.2%.