Equities in Canada’s largest market stayed in the green midday Wednesday, led by the country's heavyweight bank shares, while BlackBerry Ltd rallied after announcing a strategic shift away from hardware.
The S&P/TSX Composite remained positive 46.06 points to greet noon at 14,604.10
The Canadian dollar slipped 0.27 cents at 75.5 cents U.S.
The technology whiz said it will outsource the development and design of its flagship smartphone. Its shares rose 4.5% to $10.88.
Some of the most influential movers on the index were the country's bank stocks, including Royal Bank of Canada, which rose 0.7% to $81.34, and Toronto-Dominion Bank, which advanced 0.6% to $58.27.
Energy issues also had a good morning, particularly, Canadian Natural Resources, which rose 1.3% to $38.99, while TransCanada Corp was up 1.1% at $62.27.
Among gold plays, Goldcorp fell 0.9% to $21.26.
Convenience store chain Alimentation Couche Tard fell 1.1% to $64.09.
ON BAY STREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eked up 1.56 points at 796.05
Seven 12 TSX subgroups had given up ground by noon hour, as gold slid 0.7%, consumer staples faded 0.5%, and utilities blinked 0.4%.
The five gainers were led by energy, progressing 1.1%, industrials, gaining 0.6%, and financials, better by 0.4%.
ON WALL STREET
U.S. stocks traded slightly lower on Wednesday as investors digested commentary from several key Federal Reserve officials while an Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting overseas concluded.
The Dow Jones Industrials moved into the red 22.05 points to 18,206.25, with Caterpillar leading advancers and McDonald's the top decliner.
The S&P 500 dropped back 4.01 points to 2,155.92, with energy leading nine sectors higher and health-care and telecommunications as the only laggards.
The NASDAQ Composite subtracted 11.34 points to 5,294.38, as shares of Alphabet slipped 0.4%
U.S. crude futures briefly traded lower after a build in gasoline stockpiles offset a draw in crude inventories. The oil market was earlier buoyed by remarks from Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih, in which he said output limits could be set as early as November. Falih made his comments at an unofficial OPEC meeting in Algiers.
In economic data news, U.S. durable goods orders for August came in unchanged versus an expected decline, but core capital goods orders rose for a third straight month.
There are six Fed officials scheduled to speak, including St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, Kansas City Fed President Esther George, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen said in a prepared testimony to the House Financial Services Committee that U.S. banks are well capitalized, but remain challenged by weak interest income. She did not comment on monetary policy, however.
Other data due Wednesday include the Energy Information Administration's weekly report on U.S. oil inventories.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained a slight bit of ground, lowering yields to 1.55% from Tuesday’s 1.56%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 73 cents to $45.40 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices dropped six dollars at $1,324.40 U.S. an ounce.
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