Equities in Canada’s largest market rose on Wednesday, supported by gains in Royal Bank of Canada and National Bank of Canada, after the lenders reported strong quarterly results.
The TSX marched ahead 74.64 points to approach noon Wednesday at 16,692.12.
The Canadian dollar gained 0.08 cents to 76.03 cents U.S.
Royal galloped $1.80, or 1.8%, to $101.72, while National shares jumped $2.44, or 3.6%, to $70.49.
The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was Hudbay Minerals, which jumped 16 cents, or 3%, to $5.49, after brokerage Credit Suisse raised its price target for the mining company's stock.
Its gains were followed by lumber producer Canfor Corporation, which rose 29 cents, or 1.7%, to break for lunch at $17.75.
Port services company Westshore Terminals Investment fell $2.16, or 11.9%, the most on the TSX, to $15.99, and the second-biggest
decliner was media company Corus Entertainment, down seven cents, or 2.1%, to $3.31.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange moved higher 9.65 points, or 1.4%, to 723.88
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were negative by noon Wednesday, with energy reversing 2.1%, while utilities and communications each docked 0.7%.
The five gainers were led by information technology clicking 2.2% higher, materials, gaining 1.4%, and gold, progressing 1.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite rose to fresh record highs on Wednesday, building on their rallies off the March lows, as tech shares led the way higher.
The Dow Jones Industrials stayed red, but had climbed by noon to within 8.91 points of breakeven to 28,239.53.
The S&P 500 kept added 18.63 points to Tuesday’s all-time record at 3,462.25.
The NASDAQ Composite leaped 137.9 points from Tuesday’s all-time record close to 11,604.37.
Salesforce surged more than 25%, after the software company reported blowout earnings after the bell on Tuesday.
Salesforce will replace Exxon Mobil, Amgen will replace Pfizer and Honeywell International will replace Raytheon Technologies in the Dow average, S&P Dow Jones Indices said Monday. The changes are driven by Apple’s coming stock split, which will reduce the technology weighting in the price-weighted average.
HP Enterprise, homebuilder Toll Brothers and retailer Urban Outfitters jumped following their better-than-expected earnings. Shares of Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Microsoft and Apple were all higher as well.
Sentiment on Wednesday was lifted in part by positive news on the coronavirus vaccine front and strong U.S. economic data.
Moderna said its coronavirus vaccine showed promising results in a small trial of patients ages 56 and older. The company’s stock jumped 6.5% on the news.
U.S. durable goods orders jumped by 11.2% in July, easily topping a 4.3% estimate. However, Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George told the media the risk of a double-dip recession is increasing.
Prices for the 10-Year Treasury wilted, raising yields to 0.71% from Tuesday’s 0.69%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 10 cents to $43.45 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices vaulted $29.10 to $1,952.20 U.S. an ounce.
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