Equity markets in Toronto enjoyed a mildly higher opening on Friday as investors digested inflation and retail sales data.
The S&P/TSX composite index began Friday up 16.19 points, at 14,378.02.
The Canadian dollar improved 0.26 cents at 89.23 cents U.S.
Osisko Mining released an updated mine plan for its flagship Malartic gold mine in Quebec and stressed that the $2.9-billion hostile bid from Goldcorp significantly undervalued its asset base. Osisko shares took on four cents to $7.63, while Goldcorp shares gained 26 cents to $30.22.
Silver Wheaton reported a 47% fall in quarterly profit, due to a decline in metal prices, but forecast slightly higher production for the current year. Silver Wheaton shares lost a dime to $28.14.
Bombardier provided an upbeat 2016 revenue forecast on Thursday despite its struggles to get its costly new Cseries jetliner into service. Bombardier shares gained six cents to $4.21.
Railway staff of Canadian National Railway narrowly voted against a strike-busting labour deal tentatively agreed upon by the company and union. CN shares slid 26 cents to $62.58.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported this morning that consumer prices rose 1.1% in the 12 months to February, following a 1.5% increase in January. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail inflation rose 0.3% in February, following a 0.2% gain in January.
The agency also reported that retail sales rose 1.3% to $40.7 billion in January, partially offsetting a decline in December. Gains were reported in seven of 11 sub-sectors, representing 83% of total retail sales.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange recovered 2.13 points to 1,037.39
All but two of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher at the open, led by consumer staples, ahead 1.4%, global base metals, up 0.8%, and the metals and mining sector, up 0.6%.
Only health-care was negative, sinking 1.1%, while financials were unchanged.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 hit a record high right out of the gate Friday as stocks look to close out a strong week.
The S&P 500 index traveled 5.24 points higher to 1,877.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 50.19 points to 16,381.24. The NASDAQ slid 20.54 to 4,298.75
Stocks could be volatile Friday as it's also the day when four futures and options contracts expire -- known as quadruple witching.
There's little U.S. economic or corporate news on the docket Friday. Before the bell, Tiffany reported full-year earnings and sales that fell short of forecasts.
Shares of Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Red Lobster, officially released its latest quarterly results. Darden had warned earlier this month that profits would be down sharply, but investors still pushed the stock lower.
Nike shares slid after the company said earnings could be squeezed over the next few quarters.
Symantec shares plunged after the company fired its CEO.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries nicked higher, lowering yields to 2.77% from Thursday’s 2.78%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices recouped 74 cents to $99.64 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices regained eight dollars to $1,338.50 U.S. an ounce.
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