C$ hits weakest level in five and a half years on U.S., Canada jobs

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar retreated to its weakest level in more than 5-1/2 years following North American jobs data, which showed Canada lost 4,300 jobs in December and the United States added 252,000.

The Canadian dollar , which had briefly traded near its strongest level of the session, hit $1.1887 vs the greenback, or 84.13 U.S. cents. This was sharply weaker than just prior to the data and to Thursday's close of C$1.1836, or 84.49 U.S. cents.

(Reporting by Solarina Ho; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)