Canada’s main stock index opened higher on Thursday, driven by the mining and health-care sectors.
The S&P/TSX composite index moved forward 31.87 points in the first hour of Thursday trade to 13,435.29.
The Canadian dollar slid 0.08 cents to 75.16 cents U.S.
Signs China is moving to prop up metals prices boosted aluminum to zinc, helping to fuel a second day of gains in European equities.
Copper jumped as much as 4.2% and aluminum rose the most since early October
First Quantum Minerals began the session up 5.4%, to $5.10, while Teck Resources climbed 3.3% to $5.69.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose 1.9%, or $2.15, to $117.50 in early trading.
Real estate issues suffered, as an Australian regulator Thursday thwarted an attempt by Brookfield Asset Management Inc to overcome competition concerns holding up its A$9-billion ($6.53-billion U.S.) bid for port and rail firm Asciano Ltd.
Brookfield shares were static Thursday morning at $45.35.
National Bank Financial raised the target price on Alimentation Couche-Tard to $67.00 from $65.00.
Couche-Tard shares gained 0.9% to $62.69.
Credit Suisse revised the target price on Bombardier to $1.64 from $1.65.
Shares in the plane and train maker sank four cents, or 3%, to $1.28.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.09 points to 520.28.
All but two of the 13 TSX subgroups were higher to start out Thursday, with metals and mining soaring 2.8%, health-care up 1.6%, and materials nicking ahead 0.5%.
The only two laggards were real-estate and utilities, each sinking 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. markets are closed for Thanksgiving and the stock market closes at 1 p.m. EST on Friday.
