Stocks in Canada’s biggest market gave up gains toward the end of the session, after several blistering session that propelled the index to recent new highs.
The S&P/TSX Composite moved negative 55.32 points to close Thursday at 15,027.53
The Canadian dollar leaped 0.67 cents at 75.09 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks were beaten up the worst, as Canopy Growth Corporation shed 45 cents, or 3.8%, to $11.35, while Valeant Pharmaceutical got punished 87 cents, or 4.1%, to close at $20.37.
In the information technology sector, BlackBerry was left black and blue, falling 30 cents, or 2.9%, to $10.04, while Constellation Software slumped $10.95, or 1.8%, to $615.49.
Consumer staples were also having a tough time of it, as Loblaw doffed 52 cents to $69.27, and Metro slipped 59 cents, or 1.4%, to $40.32.
Energy stocks proved the star of the day, even if some of their star lessened in brightness by the close, as MEG Energy gained 76 cents, or 11.2%, to $7.55, while Baytex Energy gained 20 cents, or 3.5%, to $5.96.
In economic news, the RBC Markit Canada Manufacturing PMI increased to 51.5 in November of 2016 from 51.1 in October, reaching the highest in four months. Any reading over 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 2.57 points Thursday to 739.54
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were lower, with health-care slumping 3.7%, information technology dipping 2.2%, and consumer staples faltering 1.9%.
The pair of gainers proved to be consumer discretionaries, up 0.7%, and energy, up 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities closed mostly lower on Thursday as declines in tech offset a rally in financial stocks, while investors digested economic data.
The Dow Jones Industrials strengthened 68.35 points to 19,191.93, with Goldman Sachs leading advancers and Intel the biggest decliner.
The S&P 500 moved into the red 7.73 points to 2,191.08, with information technology leading six sectors lower and financials the biggest riser.
The NASDAQ composite index 72.57 points, or 1.4%, to 5,251.11, as Apple and most of the so-called FANG stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google parent Alphabet) fell. Many NASDAQ members gave up much of their post-election gains.
In corporate news, Land's End and Dollar General both reported quarterly results before the bell. Meanwhile, Clarcor is being bought by Parker Hannifin for $4.3 billion U.S. in cash and assumed debt, or $83.00 U.S. per share.
In economic news, The IHS Markit U.S. Manufacturing index reading for November came in at 54.1.
The Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index came in at 53.2 for November, while construction spending rising 0.5% for October. Before the bell, initial jobless claims came in at 268,000, above an expected 253,000. Thursday's litany of data will build up
towards Friday's November jobs report.
Treasury prices for the 10-year note fell sharply, raising yields to 2.44% from Wednesday’s 2.39%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices spiked $1.44 to $50.88 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices lost 70 cents to $1,173.20 U.S. an ounce.
