Equities in Canada’s largest market were barely higher in late morning trade on Monday, helped by boosts for several big banks that reported earnings last week and by a gain for plane and train maker Bombardier Inc
The S&P/TSX Composite Index was in the green but 1.95 points to greet noon hour Monday at 15,418.88
The Canadian dollar nudged upward 0.09 cents at 74.44 cents U.S.
The gains were offset by a string of gold mining stocks that declined even as the price of the precious metal held near a one-month high of $1,267.45 U.S. an ounce.
Wheaton Precious Metals fell 1.3% to $27.75 and Goldcorp lost 0.8% to $18.32.
Bombardier rose 4% to $2.34. BMO Capital upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform after it said on Friday it delivered its first CS300 aircraft to customer Swiss International Air Lines AG.
The broader industrials group gained, with Canadian Pacific Railway progressing 0.4% to $214.67. Rival Canadian National Railway faces the threat of a strike on Tuesday morning after the railroad announced new work rules in the midst of negotiations to replace a contract that expired last year.
CN stock was off 0.2% at $103.53.
The financials group gained, with Royal Bank of Canada rising 0.6% to $94.48, Bank of Montreal gaining 0.5% to $91.61, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce up 0.6% at $106.00.
Bank of Nova Scotia, which is due to report its earnings on Tuesday, was up 0.2% at $76.04.
Boyd Group Income Fund advanced 10.2% to $98.88 after announcing it would purchase collision repair company Assured Automotive Inc.
Husky Energy shares rose 1.2% to $16.35 after the oil and gas producer said it is proceeding with its $2.2-billion West White Rose project in offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 0.59 points to 809.18
Six of the 12 TSX subgroups were lower, as utilities trudged 0.4% downward, with gold and materials off 0.3% each.
Financials led the five gaining groups, up 0.3%, while consumer staples and industrials each picked up 0.2%. Information technology stocks were unchanged by noon hour ET.
ON WALLSTREET
Markets are shuttered south of the border for Memorial Day
