Canada's main stock index rose at open on Wednesday, led by gains in health-care shares and energy sector, which was supported by a rise in oil prices.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 31.31 points out of the starting blocks Wednesday to 15,673.41
The Canadian dollar was static at 75.59 cents U.S.
Barrick Gold, the world's largest publicly traded gold producer, said on Wednesday its quarterly loss widened, partly due to an impairment charge and rise in production costs. Barrick shares dropped 90 cents, or 5.1%, to $16.81.
Teck Resources, the world's second-biggest exporter of steel-making coal, posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, hurt by weak prices for heavy crude and base metals. Teck shares faded $1.62, or 5.4%, to $28.53
Cenovus Energy posted a wider quarterly loss on Wednesday, but said the impact of output cuts will be more than offset by an improvement in Canadian crude prices this year. Cenovus gained 19 cents, or 1.8%, to $10.62.
CIBC cut the price target on DHX Media to $2.25 from $2.50. DHX shares grew five cents, or 2.3%, to $2.21.
CIBC cut the price target Pinnacle Renewable Energy to $14.00 from $17.00. Pacific Renewable shares plummeted 69 cents, or 7.3%, to $8.80.
RBC raised the price target on Sandstorm Gold to $8.50 from $7.50. Sandstorm shares picked up a dime, or 1.4%, to $7.23.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange crept up 0.85 points to 613.07
The 12 TSX subgroups were evenly divided, with energy gushing 1.4%, health-care improved 1.2%, and consumer discretionary stocks better by 0.3%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed most by gold, dipping 0.9%, materials, weakening 0.7%, and utilities, off 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks rose on Wednesday, with market participants hopeful that Chinese and U.S. trade authorities will reach an agreement.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued on its upward trek, gaining 134.04 points, to 25,559.80, as Goldman Sachs and Visa outperformed.
The S&P 500 added 11.25 points to 2,755.98, led by gains in the financials and energy sectors.
The NASDAQ Composite picked up 17.08 points to 7,431.70, as Amazon prospered 0.2%, and Alphabet shares climbed 0.7%.
President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that he might be open to postpone the current deadline of early March so that both sides can reach a deal.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury lost ground, raising yields to 2.71% from Tuesday’s 2.68%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gushed $1.14 to $54.24 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices were brighter by $6.30 to $1,320.30 U.S. an ounce.
