Equities in Toronto hit a two-week low Friday, amid losses in all sectors, primarily energy stocks.
The S&P/TSX Composite plummeted 247.73 points, or 1.6 %, to close a short week at 15,533.47. The markets were shuttered Monday of this week for Family Day.
For the week, the index was on track to fall 1.4%, the most since before the U.S. presidential election in early November
The Canadian dollar moved lower 0.04 cents at 76.29 cents U.S.
The biggest black eyes were sustained by energy issues, most notably Suncor, down $1.61, or 3.8%, to $41.24, while MEG Energy deducted 19 cents, or 2.7%, to $6.98.
Health-care stocks also suffered, as Canopy Growth Corp. slid 57 cents, or 4.6%, to $11.71, while Centric Health Corp. surrendered two cents, or 2.3%, to 85 cents.
Consumer discretionaries were also to the bad, as Canadian Tire dipped $1.24 to $155.04.
On the economic ledger, Statistics Canada reported that January’s consumer price index rose 2.1% on a year-over-year basis in January, following hiking 1.5% in December. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, inflation moved up 0.7% in January, after increasing 0.4% in December.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange tailed off 3.18 points to 836.27
All 12 subgroups were lower, with energy lagging 3.2%, health-care failing 2.3%, and consumer discretionary stocks down 1.6%
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities closed mostly flat Friday, taking a breath from their most recent run at record levels, while investors awaited President Donald Trump's speech to Congress next week.
The Dow Jones Industrials found its way into positive territory 10.55 points to 20,820.87, with Wal-Mart the top gainer and Goldman Sachs leading decliners.
The blue-chip index ran its winning streak to 11 straight sessions at record highs, its longest since 1987.
The S&P 500 surged 3.49 points to 2,367.30, with financials leading four sectors lower and utilities outperforming.
The NASDAQ inched up 9.8 points to 5,845.31.
The Dow and S&P 500 entered Friday's session on track to post weekly gains, while the NASDAQ was marginally negative week to date.
Shares of J.C. Penney fell more than 5% after reporting mixed quarterly results and announcing it will close up to 140 stores. Hewlett Packard Enterprise saw its stock decline more than 7% after missing revenue estimates and slashing its full-year guidance.
In economic news, U.S. new home sales rose 3.7% in January, below the expected increase of 6.3%. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment in the U.S. hit 96.3 in February, slightly above an estimate of 96.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note gained strength, dropping yields to 2.32% from Thursday’s 2.38%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices skidded 41 cents to $54.04 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices gained $6.90 to $1,258.30 U.S. an ounce.
Related Stories
