Stocks in Toronto stubbed their toes Monday as health-care and energy issues took a step back by the final bell.
The TSX remained negative 38.87 points to close Monday at 18,815.13.
The Canadian dollar retreated 0.03 cents at 79.83 cents U.S.
As mentioned, health-care stocks were ailing, most notably, Aurora Cannabis, which tumbled 53 cents, or 4.2%, to $12.17, while Cronos Group fell 45 cents, or 3.6%, to $12.24.
In energy, Enerplus lost 32 cents, or 4.6%, to $6.57, while Crescent Point Energy dipped 17 cents, or 3.1%, to $5.26.
In golds, Centerra Gold slid 46 cents, or 3.9%, to $11.31, while NovaGold stepped back 37 cents, or 3.1%, to $11.58.
Techs tried to keep things interesting, as Absolute Software soared 72 cents, or 4.1%, to $18.44, while Shopify jumped $49.25, or 3.5%, to $1,449.23.
In the utilities field, TransAlta attached 41 cents, or 3.7%, to $11.53, while NPI gained $1.52, or 3.5%, to $44.47.
In consumer staples, Jamieson Wellness moved forward 64 cents, or 1.7%, to $38.56, while North West Company tallied 82 cents, or 2.3%, to $35.97.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gave up 0.97 points to 994.83.
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were lower on the day, with health-care stumbling 1.9 %, energy sliding 1.6%, and gold dulling 1.2%.
The five gainers were led by information technology, hiking 2.1%, utilities, ahead 1.1%, and consumer staples better by 0.7%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks jumped on Monday led by technology shares as investors flocked back into growth names amid declining bond yields.
The Dow Jones Industrials jumped 103.23 points to close Monday at 32,731.20
The S&P 500 progressed 27.49 points 3,940.91, breaking a two-day losing streak
The NASDAQ Composite climbed 162.31 points, or 1.2%, to 13,377.54.
Shares of Tesla added 2.3% as rates fell and as Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest put out a new price target on the stock which calls for it to quadruple in four years. Apple, Microsoft and Netflix all gained at least 2%, while Amazon and Facebook climbed more than 1% each.
Industrials got a boost after the New York Times reported that President Joe Biden is eyeing an infrastructure deal with as much as $3 trillion spending to boost the economy. Most Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs were expecting around $2 trillion on infrastructure spending. Shares of Caterpillar traded into the green following the news and closed the session 0.3% higher.
Optimism about the markets and the path of the U.S. economy has been growing as vaccines are rolling out across the country, with the pace of Americans getting shots climbing in recent weeks. Several states are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, however.
U.S. trial data released Monday showed the COVID vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is 79% effective in preventing symptomatic illness and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalization.
Prices for 10-Year Treasurys spiked, dropping yields to 1.69% from Friday’s 1.73%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices picked up five cents to $61.47 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slumped $3.20 to $1,738.50.
