Canada's main stock index opened higher on Friday, lifted by mining shares, while data showing an unexpected fall in U.S. jobs last month cast doubts about an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in September.
The TSX jumped 140.64 points to kick off Friday at 36,276.95.
The Canadian dollar advanced 0.36 cents at 71.72 cents U.S.
In earnings, Lundin Gold posted a rise in second-quarter revenue, while insurer Sun Life Financial reported higher quarterly profit on strength in its Asia and domestic business.
Lundin shares handed over 45 cents to $37.14, while Sun Life dropped $1.41, or 1.7%, to $80.98.
Markets await quarterly results from Pembina Pipeline and Fiera Capital, among other companies, on Friday. Pembina fell 91 cents, or 1.5%, to $66.46, while Fiera shares fell 26 cents, or 5.2%, to $4.81.
On the trade front, the U.S. and Canada had "constructive" trade talks in Washington on Thursday, said Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
Separately, the world's largest potash producer Nutrien and The Mosaic Company face challenges as farmers cut back on fertilizer due to high prices, the companies said in earnings discussions this week. Nutrien sank $3.15, or 3.4%, to $90.47.
On the economic front, Statistics Canada reported employment increased by 75,000 (+0.4%) in July. The unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 6.4%
Moreover, the IVEY PMI index skidded to 55.1 in July from 56.2 in June, and also down from 55.8 in July 2025.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 18.28 points, or 2%, to 945.06
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups gained, led by gold, headed higher 6.2%, materials, up 4.2%, and real-estate, up 1.1%.
The five laggards were weighed by health-care, off 1.9%, energy, sliding 1.1%, and utilities, decreasing 0.8%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 rose on Friday as traders interpreted an unexpected loss in jobs in July as meaning the Federal Reserve won’t need to raise interest rates soon and can leave monetary policy on hold for now.
The Dow Jones Industrials recovered 152.47 points, to begin the week’s last session.
The much-broader index advanced 38.01 points to 7,747.97.
The NASDAQ Composite sprang 276.16 points to 26,625.16.
Stocks are headed for a second straight week of gains. The S&P 500 has risen more than 3% week to date, while the NASDAQ could post its best weekly performance since April with a rise of more than 4%, thanks to a bounce-back in chip stocks.
July’s nonfarm payrolls report showed a drop of 23,000 jobs, while economists polled by Dow Jones had forecast a gain of 83,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as the labor force participation rate fell to its lowest level in more than five years. Economists had expected it to remain unchanged at 4.2%.
Software stocks led the market higher in the session, with Cloudflare surging 10% after the cloud cybersecurity company issued a solid full-year and current-quarter outlook. Shares of Atlassian jumped 34% after the company’s fourth-quarter adjusted earnings and revenue surpassed expectations and issued upbeat guidance.
Airbnb shares also rallied 12% after the vacation rental company posted a beat on the top and bottom lines.
Oil prices, meanwhile, were little changed as investors awaited a potential deal from the U.S. and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had told CNBC earlier in the week that the two sides could reach a deal soon.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury fell, raising yields to 4.64% from Thursday’s 4.67%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices improved 36 cents to $77.65 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices hiked $109.30 to $4,408.90 U.S. an ounce.
