Canada's main stock index opened higher on Friday, trading not far from the previous session's record high as it was boosted by gains in financial and industrial shares in what was expected to be a quiet session
The S&P/TSX composite index took on 32.08 points to open Friday at 15,239.19
The Canadian dollar was unchanged to 94.03 cents U.S.
Among financials, Canadian Western Bank sprinted out 28 cents, or 0.7%, to $40.39, while Royal Bank gained 24 cents to $77.35.
CIBC upped its target price on Calfrac Well Services to $25 from $22.50, with an outperform rating. Calfrac shares took on 22 cents to $21.51.
Also, CIBC cut the rating on Duluth Metals to underperform from sector perform. Duluth shares acquired a penny to 58 cents
National Bank Financial raised the target price on Lake Shore Gold to $1.25 from $1. Lake Shore shares gained four cents to $1.10
On the corporate front, Lassonde Industries Inc. is acquiring U.S. branded juice company Apple & Eve for $150 million U.S. The Quebec-based juice maker says the acquisition will strengthen its presence in the United States. Lassonde shares jumped $3.64, or 3.3%, to $113.50.
Driven by brisk activity in the oil, gas and infrastructure sectors, the total value of M&A deals in Canada jumped by 37% to $89.5 billion in the first half of 2014, according to data released by Thomson Reuters on Thursday.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 0.73 points to 1,037.06.
All but three of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher, as industrials gained 0.5%, financials improved 0.4%, and information technology gained 0.3%.
The three laggards were metals and mining, down 0.5%, global base metals, off 0.2%, and utilities, sinking 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. markets are off today for the Independence Day holiday
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