Equity markets in Canada opened lower on Friday, as the index's most influential sectors, energy, financials and materials, led declines.
The S&P/TSX composite index gave back 25.58 points to open the last session before a long weekend at 15,002.54
The Canadian dollar erased 0.51 cents to 82.93 cents U.S.
Markets in Canada will be closed Monday for Victoria Day.
Metals stocks went south, as Sherritt International slumped eight cents, or 2.9%, to $2.69, and Major Drilling Group fell 18 cents, or 2.5%, to $6.97.
Energy issues were also under pressure, as Lightstream Resources dipped five cents, or 3.6%, to $1.36.
Evening things out somewhat, real-estate issues headed higher, with Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust units climbing 99 cents, or 1.7%, to $59.97, and Chartwell Retirement Residence gained 18 cents, or 1.6%, to $11.60.
On the economic scene, Statistics Canada reported our international transactions in securities were up significantly in March to $22.5 billion. Foreign acquisitions of Canadian private corporate securities accounted for the bulk of this activity. At the same time, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $3.2 billion, all debt instruments.
Moreover, manufacturing sales manufacturing sales rose 2.9% to $51.0 billion in March, the second increase in six months. Experts predicted Canadian factory sales would rise 1.2% in March after unexpectedly falling 1.7% in February.
Finally, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported national home sales activity rose 2.3% from March to April.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 1.41 points to 693.41
The 14 Toronto subgroups were evenly divided between gainers and losers, as real-estate tacked on 0.5%, while consumer discretionary and utilities each climbing 0.4%.
The seven laggards were weighed by metals and mining, down 0.9%, energy, off 0.8%, and global base metals, sliding 0.5%
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range on Friday, following a record close on the S&P 500, as investors eyed lower bond yields and the dollar, amid data releases.
The Dow Jones Industrials eased 22.09 points to 18,230.15, with Cisco and Visa leading gains and Caterpillar the greatest laggard.
The S&P 500 index nicked ahead 0.18 points from Thursday’s record close to 2,121.28, with health care leading four sectors higher and energy the greatest laggard.
The NASDAQ eked up 0.76 points to 5,051.56
Netflix jumped more than 3% to above $600 U.S. a share for the first time after Chinese media executives at BesTV New Media and Wasu Media Holding told the Wall Street Journal they have held early talks with Netflix. No decisions were made.
CLSA reduced its fiscal year 2016 estimates for Keurig Green Mountain, and price target to $103 from $108 after the coffee-machine maker's Kold system demonstration gave higher-than-anticipated suggested pricing. CLSA maintains an "underperform" rating on the stock and projects lower household penetration. Shares plunged more than 6.5% in pre-market trade.
Google said in a blog post that it would send self-driving cars to public roads this summer.
Goldman Sachs upgraded UPS to "buy" from "neutral" and raised its price target to $119 U.S., citing a positive skew in the risk/reward proposition and stronger-than-expected pricing in ground delivery services. Goldman also raised its view on logistics firms to "attractive" from "neutral."
Industrial production fell 0.3% in April, the fifth straight month of declines as reduced mining and utilities output weighed, Reuters said. Expectations were for a gain of 0.1%.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment report came in at 88.6, the lowest in seven months.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries gained, lowering yields to 2.17% from Thursday’s 2.24%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices faded $1.42 a barrel to $58.46 U.S.
Gold prices slid $7.90 to $1,217.30 U.S.
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