Canada's main stock index rose on Friday after the latest U.S. data showed moderate job growth in September, easing worries about a slowdown in the world's largest economy.
The TSX Composite Index gained 16.11 points to greet noon Friday at 16,385.14
The Canadian dollar inched higher 0.11 cents at 75.09 cents U.S.
Gold stocks proved the clubhouse leaders at noon hour, with Torex Gold soaring 49 cents, or 2.9%, to $17.70.
The materials sector was led by Chemtrade Logistic Income Fund, sprinting 31 cents, or 3%, to $10.77.
Real-estate stocks also gained traction, with Boardwalk REIT units gaining $1.01, or 2.3%, to $45.25.
Health-care stocks were not having such a good time Friday morning, as Canopy Growth shed 78 cents, or 2.5%., to $30.37.
Among energy issues, Secure Energy Services slid 20 cents, or 4.1%, to $4.63.
Consumer staples got knocked around, primarily, Cott Corp. off 20 cents, or 1.2%, to $16.71.
Economically speaking, Statistics Canada reported that Canada's exports rose 1.8% in August, while imports were up 1.0%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade deficit narrowed from $1.4 billion in July to $955 million in August.
Elsewhere, Western University’s IVEY Purchasing Managers’ Index slumped in September to 48.7, from August's 60.6, and also down from 50.4 in September 2018
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.17 points to 558.95
Eight of the 12 Toronto subgroups were positive midday, with gold jumping 1.3%, materials up 0.9%, and real-estate progressing 0.5%.
The four laggards were weighed most by health-care, down 1.3%, energy, down 0.7%, and consumer staples, fading 0.4%
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks traded higher on Friday following the release the latest U.S. jobs report, trimming their losses for the week.
The Dow Jones Industrials popped 224.59 points by noon to 26,425.63
The S&P 500 tacked on 25.87 points to 2,936.50
The NASDAQ Composite surged 70.24 points to 7,942.50
Friday’s gains cut into Wall Street’s weekly losses, but the major indexes were still on pace to post a three-week losing streak. The Dow and S&P 500 were both down more than 1% week-to-date while the NASDAQ had lost 0.2%.
Tech was the best-performing sector in the S&P 500, gaining 0.9% as Apple rose 1.9%. The tech giant’s stock rose after Nikkei reported the company is increasing iPhone 11 production by 10%.
The U.S. economy added 136,000 jobs in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected an increase of 145,000 jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, a 50-year low, but wages grew at a slower-than-expected pace last month.
The Federal Reserve is largely expected to cut rates later this month. Expectations for a 25 basis-point rate cut were at 79% on Friday
Prices for the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury nicked higher, lowering yields to 1.53% from Thursday’s 1.54%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 44 cents to $52.89 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices fell $3.50 to $1,510.30 U.S. an ounce.
