Energy, gold exports help Canada narrow trade deficit in April

Canada posted a smaller-than-expected merchandise trade deficit of $1.05-billion in April, as energy and gold helped exports grow faster than imports, data showed on Thursday. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a $1.40-billion deficit in the month. March's trade balance was downwardly revised to C$1.99-billion from a $2.28-billion deficit reported initially. Total exports rose 2.6 per cent in April, while imports increased by 1.1 per cent, Statistics Canada said. By volume, exports grew 1.7 per cent and imports declined by 0.2 per cent, indicating higher prices of traded goods. The rise in exports was led by energy products and unwrought…