TSX Finishes on High Note

Stock markets in Canada’s largest centre ended the week on a hot streak, as gains in tech and resource stocks lit up the index on Friday, despite rising coronavirus cases globally weighing on sentiment.

The TSX rocketed 109.29 points to end Friday at 17,019.10, within sight of its close on New Year’s Eve, and up 343 points, or 2.06%, on the week .

The Canadian dollar demurred 0.01 cents to 76.40 cents U.S.

Techs, as mentioned, shone the brightest light, as Lightspeed POS took flight $4.09, or 7%, to $59.89, while BlackBerry gained 51 cents, or 7.3%, to $7.52.

In resource stocks, First Quantum Minerals climbed 61 cents, or 3.6%, to $17.40, while Hudbay Minerals picked up 22 cents, or 2.9%, to $7.76.

In utilities, Northland Power acquired $1.69, or 4.1%, to $42.78, and Boralex advanced $1.32, or 3.5%, to $39.29.

Industrials faded, as Air Canada lost 66 cents, or 3%, to $21.02, while Aecon Group erased 20 cents, or 1.2%, to $15.96.

On the economic slate, Statistics Canada reported retail sales Retail sales rose 1.1% to $53.9 billion in September—the fifth consecutive monthly increase since the record decline in April.

The hike was led by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, general merchandise stores and food and beverage stores.

Moreover, house prices continued to increase in the majority of housing markets across the country in October.

StatsCan’s housing price index revealed that, nationally, prices for new homes rose 0.8% in October following 1.2% acceleration in September, with prices up in 21 of the 27 census metropolitan areas surveyed.

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange sprang up 11.01 points, or 1.5%, to 740.45, a gain on the week of four points, or 0.55%. The exchange is up more than 160 points since 2020 started.

All but one of the 12 TSX subgroups had climbed into positive territory by the closing bell, led by information technology, clicking 2.8%, while materials leaped 1%, and utilities grew 0.9%.

Only industrials were in the red, and only 0.03% at that.

ON WALLSTREET

Stocks fell on Friday as rising new coronavirus cases, coupled with questions around central-bank funding for key emergency programs, cast doubt on a swift economic recovery.

The Dow Jones Industrials slumped 219.75 points to close Friday at 29,263.48

The S&P 500 unloaded 24.33 points to 3,557.54.

The NASDAQ dropped 49.74 points to 11,854.97.

Boeing dumped 2.9%, and Salesforce lost 2.5%, to make them the worst-performing stocks in the Dow. Technology dipped 1.19%, and industrials slid 0.9%, to lead the S&P 500 lower.

On the week, the Dow lost 216 points, or 0.7%, while the S&P 500 was nearly 28 points to the bad, or 0.8%. The NASDAQ, however, did manage to squeak out a gain of more than 25.6 points, or 0.22%.

The U.S. seven-day average of daily new Covid-19 infections now stands at 165,029, according to an analysis of John Hopkins data, 24% higher than a week ago. On Thursday alone, a record 187,833 cases were reported. Many states have rolled back reopening plans and implemented fresh restrictions to curb the spread.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued a "Limited-Stay-at-Home Order" on a majority of the state’s residents, requiring nonessential work and gatherings to cease between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans against traveling for Thanksgiving.

Also weighing on sentiment Friday was a disagreement between the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve over the continuation of funding for some of the emergency programs implemented during the recession.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is seeking to end a handful of the Fed facilities that bought corporate bonds as well as the Main Street Lending Program targeted towards small- and medium-sized businesses. The move has drawn pushback from the central bank, which said the programs continue to serve an important role to support the vulnerable economy.

On the bullish side, markets got more good news on the vaccine front with Pfizer and BioNTech saying they will apply for an emergency use authorization for their vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday. The companies said they can be ready to ship the vaccine within hours after FDA approves the authorization.

Prices for the 10-Year Treasury were higher, weighing yields to 0.83% from at Thursday’s 0.85%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices moved up 43 cents to $42.17 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices held onto gains of $9.20 to $1,870.70 U.S.