Equities in Canada’s biggest market straddled the flatline, as financial and gold mining shares lost ground, offsetting gains for the energy group as oil prices rose.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index dipped 4.16 points to open a short week at 15,662.97
The Canadian dollar vaulted 0.34 cents at 74.86 cents U.S.
Markets throughout North America are closed Friday for Good Friday
Shares of Barrick Gold could rise 30% in the next year as the gold-mining company, which began restructuring three years ago, develops new projects and increases production, according to the April 10 edition of Barron's.
Barrick Gold shares faded 25 cents, or 1%, to $25.39.
China's state-owned clearing house said on Saturday that it will work with TMX Group to expedite cross-border investments, in Beijing's latest push to attract foreign investment into the country's $9-trillion bond market.
TMX, the organization which runs the Toronto Stock Exchange, saw its shares take on 28 cents each to $70.90.
Wells Fargo started coverage on Canada Goose Holdings with outperform rating. Canada Goose shares gained 37 cents, or 1.7%, to $22.85.
BMO cut the target price on Hudson's Bay Co. to $31.00 from $35.00. Bay shares docked a nickel to $10.66.
U.S. military strikes against Syria last week over its alleged use of chemical weapons are a warning to other nations, including North Korea, that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday.
On the economic slate, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that housing starts rose to 253,720 units in March, topping economists' forecasts for 215,000. February was revised slightly higher to 214,253 units.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange subtracted 0.06 points to 824.21
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were lower in the first hour, as gold faded 1.3%, materials suffered 0.8%, and utilities dipped 0.4%.
The five gainers were led by energy, up 0.7%, while industrials and consumer discretionary stocks each picked up 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities traded higher on Monday as investors shrugged off rising geopolitical tensions while looking ahead to the start of earnings season.
The Dow Jones Industrials jumped 54.19 points to 20,710.29, with Caterpillar contributing the most gains.
The S&P 500 increased 8.45 points to 2,363.99, with energy and consumer discretionary leading advancers.
The NASDAQ Composite added 23.25 points to 5,901.06
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Mar-a-Lago in Florida last week, in which the two leaders struck a friendly note. Some market participants looked at the meeting as a potential risk for stocks.
Investors also contended with a U.S. airstrike on a Syrian airfield late Thursday and, on Saturday, a U.S. official told media outlets that a U.S. Navy strike group will be moving close to the Korean peninsula as a show of force.
JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup are among the companies set to report earnings this week.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note gained, dropping yields to 2.37% from Friday’s 2.38%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices heightened 48 cents at $52.72 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices hesitated $6.50 at $1,250.80 U.S. an ounce.
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