Stocks in Toronto came off the peaks they’d enjoyed early on Friday, but stayed afloat due to the strength of pot and industrial stocks, albeit in an abbreviated session.
The S&P/TSX Composite held on for a gain of 10.75 points close Christmas Eve at 21,229.68. In the last week, the index gained 491 points, or 2.37%.
The Canadian dollar added 0.41 cents at 78.01 cents U.S.
Trading was limited to a half-day on Friday, Christmas Eve, the closing bell sounding around 1 p.m. EST.
The healthcare sector was boosted by gains in pot producers, Aurora Cannabis grabbed 21 cents, or 2.7%, to $8.05, Cronos Group acquired 11 cents, or 2%, to get ready for Santa at $5.58.
In the resource sector, Capstone Mining climbed 24 cents, or 4.5%, to $5.59, while Ivanhoe Mines triumphed 25 cents, or 2.5%, to $10.13.
In industrial stocks, TFI International jumped $1.91, or 1.4%, to $141.08, while Canadian Pacific flew 92 cents, or 1%, to $92.22.
Tech stocks backpedaled, though, with Absolute Software giving back 17 cents, or 1.4%, to $11.86, while Sierra Wireless deferred 39 cents, or 1.8%, to $21.25.
In the real-estate sector, Real Matters gained seven cents to $7.70, while Colliers International dipped $1.31 to $185.32.
In communications, BCE dished off seven cents to $65.61, while TELUS International doffed 15 cents to $29.59.
Canada met its target of granting 401,000 foreigners permanent residency in 2021 by focusing its efforts on temporary residents already in the country, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said on Thursday.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange jumped 6.16 points to 934.97, for a gain on the week of 41 points, or 4.59%.
Eight of the 12 TSX subgroups gained ground, with health-care taking on 0.7%, while industrials and materials each added 0.4%.
The four laggards were weighed most by information technology, down 0.3%, while real-estate and communications each dropped 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
American markets are closed for Christmas Eve. Happy Holidays!
