Toronto Stock Exchange index remained muted on Wednesday, while official data showed the nation’s economy likely contracted again in May, following its first decline in a year in April.
* At 9:39 a.m. ET (1339 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was flat at 20,170.36. However, the index is set to mark its fifth consecutive monthly gain.
* The energy sector climbed 1.2% as U.S. crude prices were up 0.7% a barrel, while Brent crude added 0.5%. [O/R]
* The nation’s economy edged down by 0.3% in April amid lockdowns to slow a harsh third wave of coronavirus infections, Statistics Canada said.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.2%.
* On the TSX, 91 issues were higher, while 134 issues declined for a 1.47-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 15.64 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was cable operator Cogeco Communications Inc, which jumped 3.9% after unit Atlantic Broadband acquired two service areas from U.S. broadband provider WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone.
* The second-biggest gainer was Mullen Group Ltd <MTL.TO>, which rose 3.8% after the freight transportation provider agreed to buy QuadExpress, the third-party logistics business of Quad/Graphics Inc.
* Pot producer Tilray Inc <TLRY.TO> fell 2.5%, the most on the TSX, after brokerage MKM Partners said there are risks surrounding the combined operations of Canadian pot producers Aphria Inc and Tilray Inc that can offset some obvious benefits.
* The second-biggest decliner was biotech company Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc <AUP.TO>, down 2%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Power Corporation of Canada <POW.TO>, Bank of Nova Scotia <BNS.TO>, and TC Energy Corp <TRP.TO>.
* The TSX posted three new 52-week highs and two new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 22 new 52-week highs and nine new lows, with total volume of 28.86 million shares.
(Reporting by Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
