Equity markets in Toronto endured a lower as escalating tensions in Ukraine sapped appetite for risk.
The S&P/TSX composite index faded 25.06 points to begin the session at 14,529.19
The Canadian dollar was unchanged at 90.72 cents U.S.
Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is more hopeful than before about an export recovery but is not straying from his mantra that an interest rate cut is just as possible as a hike because the economic outlook is so uncertain. Poloz said so during a speech in Saskatoon Thursday.
Barrick Gold founder and outgoing chairman Peter Munk criticized potential takeover target Newmont Mining in an interview with the National Post, saying the U.S. miner is "not shareholder-friendly." Barrick shares took on 36 cents to $19.61.
Canadian business software maker Open Text Corp posted a higher third-quarter profit, helped by an increase in license and customer services revenues. Open Text shares gained $1.29, or 2.5%, to $52.10.
RBC raised the price target on Canaccord Genuity to $12 from $7.50. Canaccord shares ballooned 63 cents, or 7.2%, to $9.40.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.60 points to 1,016.05
All but five of the 14 Toronto subgroups went south, weighed mostly by energy and consumer discretionary stocks, down 0.6% each, while health-care issues faded 0.4%.
The five gainers were led by gold, up 1.4%, materials, up 0.7%, and information technology stocks inched ahead 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
There's a sense of unease in the markets Friday as worries resurface over rising tension between Ukraine and Russia.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 112.51 to open the week’s final session at 16,389.14, after ending flat Thursday.
The S&P 500 slid 9.43 points to 1,869.18, and the NASDAQ composite index fell 36.01 to 4,112.33.
Meanwhile, quarterly results keep rolling in. Ford shares declined after the automaker reported its first quarterly earnings decline since 2012.
Investors are awaiting earnings from Burger King and Colgate-Palmolive ahead of the market open.
Shares of Microsoft rose after the company reported first-quarter sales that exceeded analysts' expectations.
Amazon reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue. Starbucks reported a gain in sales and earnings.
Shares of Visa fell after the credit card giant missed revenue forecasts.
In economic news, the University of Michigan's April consumer sentiment index was to be published this morning.
Tensions in Ukraine escalated sharply Thursday, with Russia embarking on new military drills near the border after Ukrainian forces said they killed five pro-Russian militants within their borders.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries, moved up, lowering yields to 2.66% from Thursday’s 2.69%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices slid $1.23 to $100.71 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices acquired $11.00 at $1,301.60 U.S. an ounce.
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