CANADA FX DEBT-Canadian dollar holds on to weekly gain as oil climbs

    * Loonie trades in a range of 1.2470 to 1.2535
    * For the week, the loonie was on track to gain 1%
    * Price of U.S. oil rises 0.7%
    * Canadian 10-year yield touches a 7-week high at 1.759%

    TORONTO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar was little
changed against its U.S. counterpart on Friday, holding on to
this week's gains, as oil prices rose and investors weighed
weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data.
    U.S. retail sales dropped 1.9% in December, compared to
estimates for an unchanged reading, as Americans struggled with
shortages of goods and an explosion of COVID-19 infections.
            
    Canada sends about 75% of its exports to the United States,
including oil, which was on course for a fourth weekly gain
boosted by supply constraints and a weaker U.S. dollar.
            
    U.S. crude        prices on Friday rose 0.7% to $82.65 a
barrel, while the Canadian dollar        was trading nearly
unchanged at 1.2519 to the greenback, or 79.88 U.S. cents.
    The currency traded in a range of 1.2470 to 1.2535, after
touching on Thursday its strongest intraday level in more than
two months at 1.2449.
    For the week, the loonie was on track to gain 1% after
sending a bullish signal to some investors by breaking the
neckline of a head-and-shoulders trend reversal pattern at about
1.2600. 
    Canada will sign onto a complaint against the United States
over its interpretation of how free trade should apply to the
continental auto industry, another sign of souring ties between
the North American neighbors.             
    Canadian government bond yields edged higher across the
curve. The 10-year             touched its highest since Nov. 26
at 1.759% before dipping to 1.715%, up nearly one basis point on
the day.

 (Reporting by Fergal Smith
Editing by Nick Zieminski)