Canada's main stock index enjoyed strong gains on Tuesday, as shares of precious metal miners gained on the back of higher gold prices.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 99.2 points to wrap up business Tuesday at 15,937.44
The Canadian dollar shed 0.14 cents at 75.69 cents U.S.
Among gold stocks, Barrick Gold galloped 79 cents, or 4.6%, to $17.91, while Kirkland Lake Gold hiked 67 cents, or 1.5%, to $45.16.
Precious metal miners Pretium Resources was among the top gainers on the Toronto market, jumping $1.03, or 10.7%, to $10.61, followed by Semafo, which rose 18 cents, or 5.6%, to $3.37.
In the technology sector, Constellation Software popped $40.54, or 3.7%, to $1,135.85 and Shopify, hiking $3.88, or 1.6%, to $239.93.
Health-care stocks were a trifle under the weather, though, as Bausch Health Companies surrendered 20 cents to $33.47, while Canopy Growth listed lower $1.43, or 2.3%, to $61.38.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 6.12 points, or nearly 1%, to 622.05
All but one of the 12 TSX subgroups were stronger on the day, as gold gained 3.5%, while materials sprinted 1.9%, and information technology climbed 1.4%.
Only health-care lagged, down 0.9%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks rose slightly on Tuesday after President Donald Trump hinted once again he may push back a key trade deadline. Equities also got a boost following strong quarterly numbers from WalMart.
The Dow Jones Industrials came off their highs of the day, but still pointing higher 8.07 points to close Tuesday at 25,891.32,
The S&P 500 gained 4.16 points to 2,779.76, as the materials sector outperformed.
The NASDAQ Composite gained 14.36 points to 7,486.77, as Amazon and Netflix both rose more than 1%.
WalMart shares rose more than 2% after the company reported better-than-expected earnings. The retailer also said e-commerce sales grew by 43% in the previous quarter.
Trump said Tuesday that trade talks with China are going well, adding the current March 1 deadline is not a "magical date." Both countries have until then to come up with a deal. Otherwise, additional U.S. tariffs on Chinese products could take effect. Trump indicated last week, however, he would be willing to push back the deadline.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury gained a bit, lowering yields to 2.64% from Friday’s 2.66%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gathered 47 cents to $56.06 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices strengthened $21.30 to $1,343.40 U.S. an ounce.
