The TSX recovered but was down slightly, despite drawing support from firming material stocks and from the sustained strength in health-care and info tech groups.
The S&P/TSX composite index fell short 2.85 points to close the day and a short week at 15,200.76
The Canadian dollar slumped 0.64 cents to 81.32 cents U.S.
Energy stocks dipped on the heels of declining oil prices. Canyon Services fell 22 cents, or 3.1%, to $6.85. Legacy Oil & Gas – the most actively traded stock -- lost five cents, or 1.7%, to $2.94, on 5.5 million shares.
Consumer staples also finished in the red, as Alimentation Couche-Tard fell 50 cents, or 1.1%, to $46.97.
On the positive side, info tech was the biggest gainer, as BlackBerry gained 34 cents, or 2.7%, to $12.88.
Health-care stocks such as Valeant Pharmaceuticals bolted $6.42, or 2.3%, higher to $291.65.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada said retail trade rose for the second consecutive month in March, advancing 0.7% to $42.5 billion.
The agency adds, despite these increases, retail sales remained below their historical peak recorded in last November. Sales in March were up in seven of 11 sub-sectors, representing 71% of retail trade.
Elsewhere on the economic front, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.8% in the 12 months to April, after increasing 1.2% in March. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail inflation decreased 0.1% in April, following a 0.3% rise in March.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 2.97 points to 703.48
Nine of the 14 Toronto subgroups were up on the day, as information technology stocks triumphed 0.8%, health-care was up 0.4%, and telecoms improved 0.3%.
The five laggards were weighed by consumer staples, shedding 0.6%, real-estate, off 0.3%, and financials, down 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday, failing to hold highs touched during the session, as investors eyed inflation data and Fed Chair Janet Yellen's speech ahead of the long weekend.
The Dow Jones Industrials swooned 53.72 points to close Friday to 18,232.02, despite Goldman Sachs ending about 1.4%higher at a 52-week high to lead blue chips gains.
The S&P 500 index slid 4.71 points to 2,126.11, with telecommunications the greatest of nine laggards and information technology the only advancing sector.
The NASDAQ skidded 1.43 points to 5,089.36
Stock markets in the U.S. are closed Monday for Memorial Day
Earnings out on Friday included Campbell Soup, Deere, and Foot Locker before market open.
Microsoft and Salesforce had significant talks about an acquisition but failed to reach a deal on price differences
Lions Gate Entertainment earnings came in seven cents U.S. above estimates with adjusted quarterly profit of 39 cents per share, but revenue fell considerably below analyst forecasts.
BlackBerry will buy back about 2.6% of its outstanding shares, to negate potential negative effects of a proposed employee stock purchase plan.
Hewlett-Packard reported adjusted quarterly profit if 87 cents U.S. per share, two cents above estimates, though revenue was slightly shy of forecasts. The company also issued weaker-than-expected current quarter guidance. Investors are taking note of a positive development—lower-than-expected expenses for the separation of its personal computer and printer businesses into a separate company.
Deere & Co. earned $2.03 U.S. per share for its latest quarter, beating estimates of $1.55 U.S. despite a slight revenue shortfall. Deere noted a weak global agricultural sector, but said good execution aided its bottom line.
The U.S. Labor Department said on Friday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% last month, with the core figure discounting food and energy costs up 0.3%, for the largest gain since January 2013.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI edging up 0.1% from March and dipping 0.1% from a year ago.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries lost ground, lifting yields slightly to 2.21% from Thursday’s 2.20%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices fell 85 cents a barrel to $59.87 U.S.
Gold prices recovered 80 cents to $1,204.90 U.S. an ounce.
