Canada's merchandise trade balance swung to a surplus in March as higher crude oil prices and surging demand for gold drove a sharp jump in exports while imports declined, data showed on Tuesday. Statistics Canada said the country posted a C$1.78 billion ($1.31 billion) surplus in March, compared with a C$5.11 billion deficit in the prior month. It was the first time in six months that Canada posted a surplus as the war in Iran boosted crude oil prices lifting the value of exports from Canada. While gold prices fell, global demand for the precious metal helped boost exports further. Analysts polled by Reuters had ... (full story)