It was yet another all-time high for markets in Canada’s biggest centre, as strength in gold and metals stocks towered over much-weaker energy issues
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 22.56 points to finish Wednesday at 16,136.59. The index reached as high as 16,166.60 points and enjoyed its fifth straight day of gains.
The Canadian dollar hiked 0.3 cents to 78 cents U.S.
Gold stocks ruled the roost Wednesday morning, with Barrick Gold gained 59 cents, or 3.4%, to $18.14, while Goldcorp jumped 81 cents, or 5.3%, to $15.97.
Materials strengthened, with First Quantum Minerals climbing 76 cents, or 4.7%, to $16.92. Agnico Eagle Mines advanced 70 cents, or 1.3%, to $54.68.
In the industrial sector, Canadian National Railways took on 19 cents to $103.19, while Stella-Jones moved forward 23 cents to $49.90.
Among tech stocks, BlackBerry gave up gains and ended up flat at $13.70. Constellation Software gained 83 cents to $779.98
Energy stocks sagged, however, as Suncor retreated 85 cents, or 1.9%, to $44.01, while Imperial Oil tumbled 89 cents, or 2.3%, to $38.40.
Among health-care issues, small marijuana company CannaRoyalty Corp dropped two cents to $2.91 after opening exclusive licensing talks with larger company Aurora Cannabis for its consumer-oriented cannabis products. Aurora was down 24 cents, or 3.1%, at $7.00.
In consumer staples, Metro dropped a penny to $40.81, while Loblaw Companies shed 92 cents, or 1.3%, to $68.14.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eked up 0.86 points to 798.57
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were positive on the day as gold soared 3%, materials climbed 2.3%, and industrials gained 0.6%.
The five laggards were weighed most by energy, slouching 1.5%, health-care, ailing 1.4%, and consumer staples, 0.4% less appetizing.
ON WALLSTREET
Blue chips in New York posted a record close on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve felt confident enough in the economy to raise rates yet again. Investors also digested news of Congressional leaders reaching a tentative agreement on a tax overhaul plan.
The Dow Jones Industrials tacked 80.63 points onto Tuesday’s record close to 24,585.43, with Caterpillar leading advancers.
The S&P 500 subtracted 1.26 points from Tuesday all-time high to 2,662.85,
The NASDAQ composite index strengthened 13.48 points to 6,875.80, off its highs of the day.
In corporate news, Finisar shares surged 22.8% after Apple awarded it $390 million. Finisar makes optical communications components which are used in Apple's iPhone X.
Verizon and AT&T both traded more than 1% lower after T-Mobile announced it bought Layer3 TV and said it plans to launch "a disruptive new TV service." T-Mobile shares traded 0.6% higher.
Caterpillar's stock climbed more than 3.6% after the company reported strong machine sales for September, October and November.
House and Senate leaders struck a tentative deal to pass sweeping changes to the U.S. tax code. The Associated Press first reported the news, and other outlets later confirmed the report. The plan would likely lower the corporate tax rate. The prospect of lower corporate taxes has been a boon for U.S. stocks this year.
The move by the Fed lifts the target range to 1.25% to 1.5%. The Fed was widely expected to raise rates at this meeting.
The central bank also raised its 2018 GDP estimate to 2.5% from 2.1% in September.
In economic news, the consumer price index — a key metric used to gauge inflation — rose 0.4% last month, as expected. Excluding food and energy, consumer prices rose 0.1%.
Investors also looked to Alabama, where Democrat Doug Jones became the projected winner of the state's Senate election. Jones upset GOP candidate Roy Moore and was set to become the first Democratic senator from Alabama in 25 years.
Jones' win trims the Republican's majority in the Senate to 51-49 and could be an obstacle for the Trump administration as it tries to push forward its business-friendly agenda.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note gained some ground, lowering yields to 2.35% from Tuesday’s 2.4%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices fell 44 cents a barrel to $56.70 U.S.
Gold prices moved up $16.20 to $1,257.90 U.S. an ounce.
