Stocks in Toronto climbed on Tuesday, boosted by gains among a broad swath of companies including banks, railways and energy companies, as investors looked optimistically ahead to 2014.
The S&P/TSX composite index hiked 55.53 points to greet noon on the last day of the year at 13,636.92. The index is on track for a gain of more than 9% for 2013.
The Canadian dollar advanced 0.16 cents to 94.05 cents U.S.
Resource stocks had the biggest positive impact, with Canadian Natural Resources up 1% at $35.95.
Gold miners reversed losses from Monday, with Goldcorp up 2.8% at $22.87 and Barrick Gold gaining 2.2% to $18.61.
Producers of the precious metal have been hard-hit this year as the price of bullion has plummeted.
Energy stocks were solid, too, as Imperial Oil gained 27 cents to $47.24, and Suncor put on 34 cents to $37.22.
Tech stocks faded a mite by noon, with CGI Group down 50 cents to $35.67, though BlackBerry gained 15 cents to $7.87.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 0.43 points to 921.67
All but one of the 14 TSX subgroups were higher midday, with gold reversing its fortunes and regaining 1.6%, materials picking up 1%, and energy surging 0.6%.
Only information technology stocks missed out, slipping 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
The final trading day of 2013 was off to a strong start Tuesday as investors prepare to bid farewell to a stellar year for stocks.
The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 51.49 points to begin New Year’s Eve trading at 16,555.78, following yet another record high on Monday, its 51st of the year.
The S&P 500 index moved higher 5.63 points to 1,846.70. The NASDAQ gained 17.24 points to 4,171.44.
U.S. markets will be closed Wednesday for New Year's Day, and few shares were trading hands early Tuesday.
The Dow and S&P 500 have soared to all-time highs in 2013. Both indexes are on track to record the biggest annual gains since the late 1990s. The NASDAQ has surged nearly 40% to highs not seen since 2000.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings will see his scheduled base salary and stock options jump by 50% in 2014, according to a regulatory filing. The company's stock has soared more than 300% this year, making Netflix the top performer in the S&P 500.
Shares for Hertz jumped after the car rental company announced measures to limit the amount of shares held by individual investors to prevent any one investor or group from gaining control of the company.
In economic reports, consumer confidence jumped in December, according to the U.S. Conference Board's index. The group's index rose to 78.1 this month, up from 72 in November. Economists had expected a more modest increase for December, when the holiday spending spree peaks.
Home prices rose at a 13.6% annual rate in October, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller index. But the report also pointed to slowing price growth.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries dipped, raising yields to 3.01% from Monday’s 2.98%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices sank 75 cents to $98.54 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices climbed $4.80 to $1,208.60 U.S. an ounce.
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