Canada's current account balance (on a seasonal adjusted basis) posted a $5.4 billion deficit in the first quarter, widening $0.9 billion from the previous quarter. This increase was led by the goods balance moving from a surplus into a deficit, which was largely offset by improvements in the services, investment income and transfers balances. The current account balance has now been in a deficit position for seven consecutive quarters.
In the financial account (unadjusted for seasonal variation), inflows of funds from abroad to finance the current account deficit mainly came from transactions in the form of loans as well as currency and deposits in the first quarter. Meanwhile, portfolio and direct investments both moderated the overall inflows, mainly due to significant acquisitions of foreign securities and a rare divestment in foreign direct investment in Canada.
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