Equities in Canada’s largest centre rose to a new record high on Tuesday, led by the heavyweight financial and energy groups as oil prices climbed, while lower gold prices weighed on gold miners.
The S&P/TSX Composite progressed 72.31 points to stop for noon at 15,910.94
The Canadian dollar fell 0.19 cents to 76.11 cents U.S.
Stock markets in Toronto were closed Monday for Family Day.
Health-care stocks led the charge, as Valeant Pharmaceuticals strengthened 28 cents, or 1.3%, to $21.30, while Canopy Growth Corporation progressed 16 cents, or 1.3%, to $12.80.
Among consumer discretionary issues, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers ballooned $5.24, or 12.9%, to $45.80.
In the energy sector, TransCanada Corp. added 26 cents to $62.50, while Baytex Energy soared 16 cents, or 3.1%, to $5.28.
On the economic ledger, Statistics Canada reported Monday that wholesale trade rose 0.7% to $57.3 billion in December, a third consecutive gain.
The agency says six of the seven sub-sectors, representing 82% of total wholesale sales, improved, the leaders being the machinery, equipment and supplies sub-sectors, as well as the building material and supplies sub-sector.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 2.83 points to 846.75
All but one of the 12 subgroups were gainers, with health-care surging 1.2%, consumer discretionary stocks moving up 1.1%, and energy up 1%.
The lone naysayer was gold, down 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities began the week on the right foot, notching fresh record highs Tuesday following a key naming by the Trump administration and corporate earnings.
The Dow Jones Industrials came off their highs of the morning, gaining 57.05 points above Friday’s all-time high to 20,681.10, with Boeing and Wal-Mart contributing the most gains
The S&P 500 jumped 8.06 points to 2,359.22, with energy leading all sectors higher
The NASDAQ gained 12.91 points to 5,851.13.
Investors also digested several corporate quarterly results, including retail giants Macy's and Home Depot. Macy's posted mixed results, beating earnings per share estimates but falling short on sales, while Home Depot exceeded Wall Street expectations.
The White House announced Monday that Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster will become the new national security advisor. McMaster replaces Michael Flynn, who resigned last week.
In economic news, the flash read on the IHS Markit U.S. purchasing managers' index hit 54.3 for February, falling slightly from January's 14-month peak.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note gained back the ground it lost, lowering yields back to Friday’s 2.42%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices tacked on 96 cents to $54.36 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices faded 70 cents to $1,238.40 U.S. an ounce.
