File photo: A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto, January 23, 2015. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Analysts have cut their bullish near-term forecasts for the Canadian dollar as China's economy weakens and the gap between U.S. and Canadian bond yields grows, but still expect the currency to be stronger in a year, a Reuters poll showed. "The loonie has lost a few feathers in recent weeks," said Stefane Marion, chief economist and strategist at National Bank of Canada. "Widening interest rate differentials with the U.S. and weaker commodity prices due to a slowing Chinese economy are keeping the CAD in check." Canada is a major producer of commodities, so the loonie tends to be sensitive to the global growth outlook.

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Persons: Mark Blinch, Stefane Marion, Marion, Fergal Smith, Sujith Pai, Devayani, Pranoy, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bank of Canada, U.S, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Canada, U.S