Canada's main stock index fell on Tuesday, with consumer stocks leading declines.
The TSX Composite Index erased 64.09 points to greet the last noon hour of 2019 at 17,034.47
The Canadian dollar jumped 0.62 cents to 77.18 cents U.S.
Markets will close on Wednesday for New Year’s Day.
French aeronautics group Latecoere has agreed to buy Bombardier's electrical wiring interconnection system business based in the Mexican state of Querétaro for around $50 million, the companies said. Bombardier's shares rose two cents, or 1%, to $1.95.
The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Hudsons Bay Co., which jumped $1.43, or 17.6%, to $9.61, and Ballard Power, which rose 20 cents, or 2.2%, to $9.28.
Chorus Aviation fell seven cents, to $8.04 the most on the TSX, and the second biggest decliner was Baytex Energy, down half a cent to $1.905.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 2.83 points to 571.76
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups listed lower by noon EST, as consumer staples fell 0.9%, while gold and materials fell back 0.6% each.
The two gainers were health-care, vaulting 5%, while energy improved 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks traded slightly lower on Tuesday as Wall Street wrapped up a banner year that saw equities surge to record highs, overcoming concerns about the economy and a trade fight with China.
The Dow Jones Industrials slid 33.24 points to venture into noon hour at 28,428.90. Boeing, down 0.6%, and Merck was lowered 0.5%, leading the Dow lower.
The S&P 500 fell 3.75 points to 3,217.54. Consumer staples and health care were the biggest laggards in the S&P 500, sliding 0.2% each.
The NASDAQ eked lower 0.14 points to 8,945.85.
The market’s dip came after President Donald Trump tweeted Iran was responsible for an attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq. Earlier in the day, they pointed to slight gains at the open.
Still, the major averages remained on track for strong annual gains. The S&P 500 entered Tuesday’s session up 28.5% for 2019, on pace for its biggest one-year gain since 2013, when it rallied 29.6%. The broad index was also within striking distance of its 1997 surge of 31%.
Apple jumped 84.4% and Microsoft triumphed 55.2%, leading the way higher for stocks in 2019. They are the best-performing Dow stocks of the year and accounted for about 15% of the S&P 500's overall gains for 2019.
Chipmakers Advanced Micro Devices, Lam Research and KLA Corp. were the best-performing S&P 500 stocks in 2019. AMD and Lam Research both rose more than 100% for the year while KLA surged 99.3%. Retailer Target and fast-casual dining chain Chipotle Mexican Grill also rallied more than 90% this year.
Stocks surged in 2019 despite the ongoing U.S.-China trade war as the Federal Reserve cut rates three times while consumer sentiment remained high. Trade tensions also declined in the fourth quarter after China and the U.S. agreed to sign a so-called phase one trade deal.
Prices for the 10-Year U.S. Treasury nudged lower, raising yields to 1.91% from Monday’s 1.89%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gave back 14 cents to $61.54 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices jumped $6.60 at $1,525.20 U.S. an ounce.
