Stocks in Canada’s biggest market continued to prosper as the clock approached noon ET Tuesday, mostly on the strength of revived energy and industrial stocks.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 84.34 points to greet noon at 15,590.56
The Canadian dollar recouped 0.11 cents at 74.84 cents U.S.
Key among energy issues leading the climb were EnCana Corporation, jumping 50 cents, or 3.5%, and Suncor Energy, gushing 87 cents, or 2.2%, to $41.34.
Industrials also had a fine morning, as New Flyer Industries popped 77 cents, or 1.7%, to $48.53, while Canadian National Railways gaining $1.58, or 1.6%, to $98.74.
In the financial sector, TD Bank surged 79 cents, or 1.2%, to $65.92, while Royal Bank spiked $1.20, or 1.2%, to $97.99.
Gold stocks, however, took their lumps, with Goldcorp trailing $1.26, or 5.9%, to $20.20, and Barrick Gold slumping 51 cents, or 2%, to $25.69.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 1.91 points to 806.05
Eight of the 12 TSX subgroups were positive midday, with energy behaving most energetically, up 1.4%, industrials stronger by 1%, and financials up 0.8%.
The four laggards were led by gold, slumping 2.3%, materials, slouching 1.1%, and health-care, down 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities rose on Tuesday as investors digested strong consumer confidence data, while watching out for any new developments regarding the White House's agenda.
The Dow Jones Industrials vaulted 98.47 points to pause for lunch at 20,649.45, with Goldman Sachs performing the strongest.
The 30-stock index hopes to avoid its longest losing streak since 1978, having hit eight straight sessions on Monday.
The S&P 500 recovered 12.85 points to 2,354.44, with financials and energy rising 1% to lead advancers.
The NASDAQ Composite gathered 21.64 points to 5,862.02
Consumer confidence surged this month, hitting 125.6, up from 116.1 in February, according to the Consumer Board Consumer Confidence Index.
Other data released Tuesday included the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index, which showed U.S. home prices rose 5.9% to a 31-month high in January.
Investors on Tuesday were also waiting for remarks from key Fed officials, including Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer, who will speak to the media early Tuesday afternoon.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was down slightly, hiking yields to 2.39% from Monday’s 2.38%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices rebounded 96 cents to $48.69 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices sank 90 cents at $1,254.80 U.S. an ounce.
