Equities in Toronto opened higher on Monday, helped in part by advances in health-care and tech stocks, but gains were offset by a firm retreat in the materials group as gold prices fell.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 43.24 points to begin Monday at 15,362.80
The Canadian dollar gained 0.07 cents to 75.63 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks sparked as Valeant Pharmaceuticals leaped $1.57, or 7.5%, to $22.50, while Canopy Growth increased in price 31 cents, or 3.7%, to $8.72.
Moreover, Canaccord Genuity adds TSO3 Inc. to focus list pick. TSO3 stock gained six cents to 2.1%, to $2.88.
BlackBerry shares took on 42 cents, or 3.3%, to $13.28.
National Bank of Canada raised the rating on Equitable Group to sector perform from underperform.
Equitable shares strengthened 11 cents to $63.37.
TD Securities raised the rating on Northland Power to action list buy from buy. Northland shares galloped 82 cents, or 3.6%, to $23.70.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 1.64 points to 775.61
All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups gained ground, as health-care heightened 2.8%, while information technology hiked 1%, and consumer discretionary stocks gained 0.8%.
The three laggards were gold, down 1.4%, materials, falling 0.7%, and energy, sputtering 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities kicked off the last trading week of the month Monday on a high note as bank and technology stocks rose.
The Dow Jones Industrials leaped 89.69 points to start Monday and the week at 21,484.45, as Goldman Sachs gained the most.
The S&P 500 moved higher 9.05 points to 2,447.35, with information technology and financials leading advancers.
The NASDAQ picked up 15.12 points to 6,280.37
Technology stocks rebounded last week from a two-week swoon, rising 2.3%. The sector has been the stalwart of the U.S. stock market this year, advancing more than 20%.
Among banks, shares of Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase all rose in early trade. U.S. big banks have been underperforming this year
Wall Street also monitored Washington as President Donald Trump was set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time. The two leaders are expected to discuss immigration and a visa program that lets Indian IT talent work in the U.S.
In economic news, durable goods fell 1.1% in May, more than the expected 0.6% drop.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note were in up in price, dropping yields to 2.13% from Friday’s 2.14%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices hesitated 23 cents to $42.78 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices sank $10.60 to $1,245.80 U.S. an ounce.
