Stocks in Canada’s largest centre managed to hold onto earlier gains throughout the day, lifted mostly by tech strength.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 51.14 points to close Thursday at 15,479.83.
The Canadian dollar lost 0.23 cents at 73.49 cents U.S.
The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was Shopify, which jumped $58.45, or 5.3%, to $1,168.13, after RBC raised its target price for the stock. Still with techs, Kinaxis hiked $2.34, or 1.3%, to $185.01.
Among consumer staples, Empire Company proved the emperor, advancing $1.70, or 5.5%, to $32.89, while Primo Water gained 66 cents, or 3.7%, to $18.55.
Utilities also performed well, what with Boralex gaining a dollar, or 3.4%, to $30.30, while Altagas tallied 39 cents, or 2.5%, to $16.25.
On the downside were resource stocks such as First Majestic Silver, dawdling 24 cents, or 2.7%, to $8.87, while Previum Resources slipped 36 cents, or 3.3%, to $10.59.
Iamgold settled 18 cents, or 4%, to $4.34. while Centerra Gold gave back 34 cents, or 2.5%, to $13.37.
Real-estate units dipped as H&R REIT let go of 17 cents, or 1.6%, to $10.32, while Canadian Apartment REIT fell 86 cents, or 1.7%, to $50.81.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported that, as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread throughout the economy, wholesale sales plummeted 21.6% to $49.8 billion in April, the lowest level since July 2013.
The agency’s new housing price index edged up 0.1% at the national level in May following no change in April.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell 1.52 points to 558.27.
By the close, the 12 TSX subgroups were neatly divided, with information technology pumping 1.7% higher, consumer staples, up 1%, while utilities increased 0.9%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed mostly by materials, down 0.8%, while real-estate and gold each surrendered 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for a second straight day on Thursday as investors weighed the rising number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. and around the world along with disappointing unemployment data.
The 30-stock index remained negative 39.51 points, to end the session at 26,080.10, after falling 271 points to start the day.
The S&P 500 fought its way to a gain of 1.85 points to 3,115.34.
The NASDAQ grew 32.52 points to 9,943.05, for its fifth consecutive gain.
The major averages head into Friday’s session with solid weekly gains. The Dow was up 1.9% through Thursday’s close for the week while the S&P 500 has gained 2.4% in that time period. The NASDAQ has jumped more than 3% week to date.
Facebook, Amazon and Netflix all closed slightly higher to lift the Nasdaq. Declines in Carnival and American Airlines kept a lid on the S&P 500's gains.
Several states in the U.S. are experiencing a resurgence of infections. Arizona reported a record-high number of new confirmed cases, while Texas saw an 11% daily spike in hospitalizations for patients with COVID-19 on Wednesday.
In China, the country’s capital city has reportedly closed schools and canceled flights to contain the latest wave of coronavirus cases.
However, a disease expert in China announced the latest outbreak of coronavirus cases in Beijing had been brought under control.
Initial U.S. weekly jobless claims rose more than expected last week, coming in at 1.508 million. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a print of 1.3 million.
Prices for the 10-Year Treasury gained, lowering yields to 0.71% from Wednesday’s 0.73%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 93 cents to $38.89 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices faded $4.70 to $1,730.00 U.S. an ounce.
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