* C$ at C$1.0230 vs US$, or 97.75 U.S. cents * U.S. housing, durable goods data lifts sentiment * Traders positioning due to CNOOC acquisition of Nexen * Next BoC rate hike seen Q1 2014-Reuters poll By Solarina Ho TORONTO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday as U.S. economic data bolstered investor sentiment which had been battered recently by the sluggish domestic economy and renewed worries about Europe. The cur