American stock markets reached historic highs Friday, pulling the Toronto market along with it.
The S&P/TSX composite index was 126.47 points higher at 12,506.11 near midday.
The Canadian dollar was down 0.05 of a cent at 99.13 cents U.S.
July copper gained 1.9 cents to $3.29 U.S. a pound while June gold bullion was off.
In earnings, Air Canada says it narrowed its net loss to $260 million or 95 cents per diluted share in the first quarter. That was down from a net loss of $274 million or 99 cents per share in the same 2012 quarter. Air Canada shares fell 18 cents to $2.70.
BlackBerry says the U.S. Department of Defence has approved its new BlackBerry 10 smartphones and PlayBook tablets for use on its networks, a key security approval for the technology company. Shares rose 22 cents to $16.05.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 5.37 points Friday to 968.18
All but one of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher by noon, led by metals and mining, spiking 4%, global base metals, prospering 3.4%, and materials, growing 1.7%.
Only health-care stocks missed the party, sinking 0.06%.
ON WALLSTREET
Investors cheered the latest report on the U.S. job market Friday, pushing the Dow above 15,000 for the first time before backing down.
The Dow Jones Industrials gained 155.48 points, or just more than 1%, to greet noon at 14,987.10
The S&P 500 index surged 18.63 to 1,616.22, a new intraday high, while the NASDAQ Composite gained 43.68 points to 3,384.30
On the economic slate, the U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs in April, according to the government's latest report. The unemployment rate dipped to 7.5% from the prior month's rate of 7.6%.
Both numbers were better than expected, easing concerns about a summer slowdown in the economy. But the unemployment rate still remains well above the level at which the Federal Reserve has said it will take the market's punch bowl away.
Factory orders fell 0.4% in March, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The report was worse than expected and came after a 1.9% drop in February. The Institute for Supply Management said its index of activity in the services sector fell in April, but remained above the level indicating growth.
LinkedIn shares plunged after the professional-networking site offered weak second-quarter guidance.
AIG shares rose after the insurer reported earnings that beat expectations Thursday.
Shares of 3D Systems rose after office supplies retailer Staples announced plans to sell the company's 3-D printer.
Yahoo shares rose to a five-year high on renewed optimism over the Internet pioneer's turnaround plan.
Warren Buffett's investment firm Berkshire Hathaway is scheduled to release quarterly earnings after the market close.
Prices on the 10-year U.S. Treasury slumbered, hiking yields to 1.73% from Thursday’s 1.63%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions
Oil prices gained $1.86 to $95.85 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid $4.40 at $1,463.20 U.S. an ounce
Related Stories
