Stocks in Toronto had difficulty hitting the breakeven point Thursday, as descents in gold stocks competed with moderate gains among financials.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index slumped 8.99 points to wrap up Thursday at 15,135
The Canadian dollar found its way upward 18 cents to 78.57 cents U.S.
Among the leading group, financials, Manulife strengthened 54 cents, or 2.2%, to $25.28, while CIBC gained 64 cents to $108.05.
In the energy sector, Cenovus Energy moved higher nine cents, or 1%, to $9.31, while Encana Corporation climbed 10 cents to $11.75.
Health-care were in the green, as Valeant Pharmaceuticals obtained 51 cents, or 2.4%, to $22.05, while Concordia International gained eight cents, or 3.9%, to $2.13.
Gold struck the wrong note Thursday, as Barrick Gold faded 16 cents to $20.02, while Goldcorp lost 10 cents to $16.42.
In the materials sector, First Majestic Silver lost 25 cents, or 2.5%, to $9.59, while Agnico Eagle Mines settled $1.26, or 2.2%, to 55.62.
On the economic scene, Statistics Canada said Toronto and Vancouver were largely responsible for a 0.7% monthly rise in new house prices in Canada in May.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange surrendered 5.55 points to 752.93
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups remained negative on the day, as gold fell 1.4%, materials and real-estate declined 0.3% each.
The five gainers were led by financials, up 0.3%, while energy and health-care each took on 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities closed higher on Thursday as retailers rose, led by Target.
The Dow Jones Industrials improved 20.95 points to 21,553.09, notching a record close, with Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs and Apple contributing the most gains.
The S&P 500 gained 4.58 points to 2,447.83, with Target among the best performers.
The NASDAQ added 13.27 points to 6,274.44, as shares of Snap jumped 2.9%.
Shares of Target climbed 4.8% after the company said it expects a "modest increase" in second-quarter comparable-store sales, a measure closely watched by Wall Street for retail stocks. Target added it expects second-quarter earnings to come in above the high end of the forecast.
Shares of Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Costco and Macy's rose as well.
Brick-and-mortar retailers have been hit hard this year. Macy's, meanwhile, has shed approximately 40%.
Wall Street also looked ahead to the start of earnings season. JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup are set to report Friday morning.
In economic news, the U.S. producer price index rose 0.1% in June. Economists expected the index to remain flat. Weekly jobless claims, meanwhile, came in just above expectations at 247,000.
Wall Street also set its sights on Washington. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was set to testify in front of Congress for the second straight day. Her prepared remarks from Wednesday ignited a rally in the U.S. stock market, which sent the Dow to a record close.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped Thursday, lowering yields to 2.36% from Wednesday’s 2.33%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions
Oil prices gained 58 cents to $46.07 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices slid $1.60 to $1,217.50 U.S. an ounce.
