Equities in Canada’s largest centre took a break from climbing to heights that took them to new records, as health-care and resource stocks took body blows.
The TSX Composite Index retreated 102 points Friday to close out the week to 17,665.49, still, a 2% hike on the week.
The Canadian dollar lost 0.08 cents to 75.18 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks took the biggest pounding as Aurora Cannabis plummeted 42 cents, or 15.7%, to $2.25, while Aphria weakened 22 cents, or 3.8%, to $5.61.
Materials stocks were battered as well, with Hudbay Minerals bruised 28 cents, or 6.5%, to $4.04, and ERO Copper tumbling $1.39, or 7.5%, to $17.21.
Among energy stocks, MEG Energy was down 36 cents, or 5%, to $6.90, while Baytex Energy slumped six cents, or 4.1%, to $1.41.
Utilities tried to cheer things up, with Algonquin Power & Utilities progressing 66 cents, or 3.3%. to $20.70, while Transalta Corporation was stronger by 17 cents, or 1.7%, to $10.30.
In communications, Cogeco Communications muscled up $1.63, or 1.5%, to $110.25, and TELUS climbing 43 cents to $54.48.
In real estate, Northwest Healthcare Properites REIT units soared 24 cents, or 1.9%, to $12.65, while Allied Properties REIT gained $1.06, or 1.9%, to $57.20.
In the economic docket, Statistics Canada reported employment increased by 35,000, or 0.2%, in January, all in full-time work. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 5.5%
Western University’s Ivey PMI jumped to 57.3 in January from 51.9 in the previous month and 54.7 in January 2019
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange slid 3.84 points to close Friday at 574.16, a weekly loss of 0.2%.
All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups were negative, with health-care down 4.9%, materials swooned 2%, and energy was weaker 1.7%.
The three gainers were led by utilities, up 0.4%, while real-estate better and communications were each better by 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks fell on Friday as worries over the coronavirus’ impact on the Chinese economy outweighed the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data.
The Dow Jones Industrials plunged 277.26 points to 29,102.51
The S&P 500 forfeited 18.07 points at 3,327.71.
The NASDAQ lost 51.64 points to 9,520.51.
With those losses, the major averages snapped four-day winning streaks.
The S&P 500 is up more than 3% week to date, and is on pace for its best weekly performance since early June. The Dow is up 3% for the week while the NASDAQ has gained 4%.
Caterpillar and Boeing led the 30-stock index lower, Caterpillar falling 2.8% and Boeing 1.6%. Disney and Goldman Sachs shares each dropped more than 1%. Materials, tech and health care led the S&P 500 500 lower as each sector declined by at least 0.9%.
The U.S. economy added 225,000 jobs in January. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a print of 158,000 jobs. Wages rose 3.1% on a year-over-year basis, also topping expectations.
China’s National Health Commission on Friday confirmed 31,131 cases of the deadly pneumonia-like virus in the country, with 636 deaths.
Prices for the 10-Year U.S. Treasury rose sharply, lowering yields to 1.58% from Thursday’s 1.64%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices backed off 50 cents to $50.45 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices hiked $3.80 to $1,573.80 U.S. an ounce.
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