Canada's main stock index faded into the red on Friday, as initial enthusiasm over higher oil prices cooled.
The S&P/TSX composite index dipped 6.82 points –after spending much of the day in positive territory -- to end the day, week and month at 15,234.34
The Canadian dollar inched up 0.11 cents to 80.02 cents U.S.
Even so, the benchmark index was set to climb 4% this month.
Base metals stocks proved the strongest of the bunch, with HudBay Minerals climbing 41 cents, or 3.9%, to $10.87, while Teck Resources gained 64 cents, or 3.3%, to $20.14.
Tech stocks proved the biggest weight on the market Friday, as shares in SandVine Corporation capsized 21 cents, or 5.6%, to $3.54.
Health-care shares provided a concern, too, as Catamaran dipped $1.80, or 2.8%, to $62.52.
In the financial sector, Toronto Dominion Bank rose 36 cents, or 0.7%, to $54.83 and Royal Bank of Canada added 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $78.34.
Shares of energy companies climbed, as Enbridge advanced 42 cents, or 0.7%, to $58.03, and TransCanada Corp moved up 63 cents, or 1.2%, to $54.80.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 5.8 points to 706.73
Eight of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher, led by metals and mining, up 2% each, while materials and global base metals were each better by 1.1%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed most by information technology, down 1.9%, while health-care suffered 1%, and consumer discretionaries faded 0.4%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks posted gains of 5% or more in February, despite closing modestly lower on the last trading day of the month on Friday amid lackluster data and oil gains.
The Dow Jones Industrials slumped 81.72 points to 18,132.70, with American Express the greatest laggard and Coca-Cola the greatest of seven blue-chip advancers. The Dow gained 5.64% for the month, its best since January 2013.
The S&P 500 fell 6.24 points to 2,104.50, with information technology the greatest decliner and consumer staples and telecommunications the only two advancing sectors. The S&P was up 5.5% for the month, the best since October 2011.
The NASDAQ index lost 24.36 points to 4,963.53. The index gained 7.1% for the month, its best since January 2012.
Stocks performed much better during the second month of the year than in January. Both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average hit new records for the first time in 2015 in February and the major indices are up about 2% or more for the year.
Shares of Coca-Cola, which took a 16.7% stake in Monster Beverage last year, traded more than 2% higher. Monster reported after the bell on Thursday that it earned 72 cents U.S. per share for its latest quarter, 13 cents above estimates, while sales were also well above estimates. The company's results were helped by a jump in overseas sales.
J.C. Penney posted a breakeven quarter on an adjusted basis, falling short of the 11 cent consensus analyst estimate. Revenue was above forecasts, and comparable store sales did rise a better than expected 4.4%.
Gap, whose brands include Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic, earned 75 cents U.S. per share for its latest quarter, a penny above estimates, with revenue in line. Gap issued a conservative forecast for 2015, pointing to West Coast port disruptions and a stronger dollar.
The nutritional product maker Herbalife beat estimates by 19 cents U.S. with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.41 U.S. per share. However, revenue fell short of analyst forecasts, as does Herbalife's first quarter and full-year sales guidance. Herbalife, like others, said it would be negatively impacted by the effects of a stronger dollar.
The discount retailer Ross Stores reported quarterly profit of $1.20 U.S. per share, nine cents above estimates, with revenue also beating forecasts. Ross also increased its quarterly dividend to 23½ cents U.S. per share from 20 cents, and will buy back $1.4 billion U.S. in stock.
Fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product stateside was revised to show growth of 2.2%. Analysts polled by Reuters expect GDP growth of 2.1%, after a final reading of 5% in the third quarter.
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index came in at posted 45.8, the lowest since July 2009. Experts partly attributed the contraction level, not seen since April 2013, to the West Coast port strike.
Consumer sentiment came in at 95.4 for February, down from January's 98.1.
Pending home sales were the highest in 18 months, the National Association of Realtors said.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries were higher, lowering yields to 2% from Thursday’s 2.02%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices climbed $1.14 to $49.29 U.S.
Gold prices took on $2.10 an ounce to $1,217.40 U.S.
