Equities in Toronto tumbled at Friday’s open, as investors fled to safety amid global geopolitical uncertainties, with the heavily weighted financial stocks leading broad declines.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 86.99 points to begin the week’s last session at 14,946.64
The Canadian dollar gained 0.56 cents to 79.43 cents U.S.
BlackBerry dropped nine cents to $10.96.
Swedish prosecutors said they would charge an employee of Canadian aircraft and train maker Bombardier on suspicion that he and several others at the company had bribed an Azerbaijani official to secure a contract worth around $340 million.
Bombardier shares lost six cents, or 2.3%, to $2.57.
TMX Group Ltd is seeking guidance from the country's securities regulators, it said on Thursday, as it weighs how to deal with marijuana companies listed in Canada with interests in the United States, where the business remains federally illegal.
The company that runs the Toronto Stock Exchange took on 37 cents more a share to $65.42.
RBC raised the rating on Teranga Gold to outperform from sector perform. Teranga shares hoisted 11 cents, or 3.8%, to $2.98.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada reported July consumer price index rose 1.2% on a year-over-year basis in July, following a 1.0% increase in June. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, inflation was up 0.2% in July, after posting no change in June.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 1.63 points to 769.05.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were negative, with information technology issues slumping 1.1%, industrials slouching 0.9%, and financials poorer at 0.7%.
The two gainers were gold, up 1.1%, and materials, nicking up 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities were set for their second straight weekly drop on Friday on growing concerns that President Donald Trump would not be able to move forward with his pro-growth economic agenda.
The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 49.85 points to 21,700.88, with Nike contributing the most losses. Nike shares followed Foot Locker's stock lower. Foot Locker shares declined more than 25% after reporting much weaker-than-expected quarterly results.
The S&P 500 lost 3.23 points to 2,426.78, with real estate lagging.
The NASDAQ lopped off 6.04 points to 6,215.87.
The Dow and the S&P had fallen approximately half a percent for the week entering Friday's session. The two indexes were also on track for their first two-week losing streak since May. The NASDAQ, meanwhile, was on track to post a four-week losing streak, its longest of the year.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note gained ground, lowering yields to 2.17% from Thursday’s 2.19%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices fell eight cents to $47.01 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices gained $9.40 to $1,301.80 U.S. an ounce.
