Toronto stock markets more than held their own as morning became afternoon Friday, as energy and metals stocks asserted themselves.
The S&P/TSX composite index added 78.88 points to greet noon Friday at 13,845.55, after scaling nearly 400 points higher Thursday.
The Canadian dollar docked 0.46 cents to 75.31 cents U.S.
Among energy plays, Bellatrex Exploration soared 34 cents, or 16.3%, to $2.43, while Trican Well Service popped 28 cents, or 19.1%, to $1.75.
Global base metals also moved upwards, as Major Drilling Group flew 37 cents, or 9.5%, to $4.26, while Trevali Mining acquired three cents, or 5.9%, to 54 cents.
Consumer staples flagged as North West Company dropped 57 cents, or 2.1%, to $26.84, while convenience store chain operator Alimentation Couche-Tard slipped 76 cents, or 1.3%, to $56.23.
Statistics Canada reported this morning that its industrial product price index increased 0.7% in July, due mostly to higher vehicle prices, while its raw materials price index went south 5.9% during the same month, led by lower prices for crude energy products.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 7.02 points to 552.57
Eight of the 14 TSX subgroups gained ground, most notably energy, ahead 3.9%, global base metals, up 2.4%, and the metals and mining group, surging 2.2%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed mostly by consumer staples, sliding 0.6%, while real-estate and financials each eased 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range on Friday in the final day of a volatile trading week as investors eyed data and Federal Reserve speakers.
The Dow Jones industrial average erased 39.69 points from two straight days of major gains to 16,615.08, off its lows of the morning, with Goldman Sachs leading decliners and Chevron the greatest advancer.
The S&P 500 dropped 6.53 points to 1,981.13, with financials the greatest of eight decliners and energy and materials the only advancing sectors.
The NASDAQ index moved lower 10.02 points to 4,802.69, with Apple trading about half a percentage point lower.
The final read on August consumer confidence from the University of Michigan came in at 91.9, slightly lower than the initial print and July's figure.
Other data showed an increase of 0.4% in personal income and an increase of 0.3% in consumer spending.
In an interview with the media, Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer said it is too 'early to tell' if a case for a September rate hike is more or less compelling.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries lost ground, raising yields back to Thursday’s 2.19%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices regained $2.51 a barrel to $45.07 U.S.
Gold prices gained $10.00 to $1,132.60 U.S. an ounce.
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