Canadian $ hits parity with US $ for first time in 31 years

[Symbion]

Are any Canadians here going to take advantage of this... especially for X-mas shopping? 

:)))

TORONTO - Continued U.S. dollar weakness left the Canadian dollar at parity with the U.S. dollar mid-Friday afternoon while the Toronto stock market made sharp gains led by resource and financial stocks.

The loonie had earlier hit some turbulence following the release of disappointing retail data but later moved up 0.17 cent to $1.0004.

The two currencies hit parity for the first time since November 1976 during Thursday's session, due to a faltering greenback, a strong Canadian economy and high global oil prices.

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/21092007/2/biz-finance-c-improves-greenback-weakness-energy-helps-boost-tsx.html