TSX Set for Fifth Straight Monthly Gain

Equity markets in Toronto eased at the open on Monday but were still set for its fifth straight month of gains amid historic global stimulus and optimism around a post-pandemic economic rebound.

The TSX faded 63.25 points to begin the week at 16,642.54.

The Canadian dollar gained 0.18 cents to 76.63 cents U.S.

Canaccord Genuity starts coverage on Skeena Resources with speculative buy rating; target price of $5.00.

Scotiabank raises the target price on Canadian Western Bank to $29.00 from $25.00

Scotiabank cuts target price on CAPREIT to $56.25 from $56.75

On the economic front, Statistics Canada says its industrial product price index rose 0.7% in July, driven primarily by higher prices for energy and petroleum products and primary non-ferrous metal products.

The Raw Materials Price Index increased 3%, mainly as a result of higher prices for crude energy products.

The agency also said building permits building permits fell in number 3.0% to $7.8 billion

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange gained 5.44 points, to open Monday at 750.75.

All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were lower in the first hour, with energy tumbling 1.5%, health-care sicker by 1.4%, and real-estate off 1.3%.

The two gainers were gold and materials, both up 0.5%.

ON WALLSTREET

Stocks were mixed on Monday as the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average wrapped up their best August performances since the 1980s.

The 30-stock average slumped 165.42 points to begin Monday at 28,653.87

The S&P 500 lost 3.67 points to 3,508.01, fading from Friday’s all-time record.

The NASDAQ Composite advanced 38.41 points to 11,734.04.

The S&P 500 is up 7.2% month to date, putting the broader-market index on track for its biggest August gain since 1984. The Dow has rallied more than 8% this month and is also headed for its best August in 36 years.

Two big stock splits take effect Monday. Apple shares gained 2% as a four-for-one split took effect. Tesla shares added nearly 0.7% following its five-for-one split.

The August rally built on the market’s sharp rebound off the March 23 intraday lows. Since then, the Dow has hurtled 57% and the S&P 500 is up 60.1%.

In an apparent long-term bet on the global economy, Warren Buffett announced Sunday that his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate had acquired stakes of more than 5% in Japan’s five-leading trading companies.

Those companies are Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., and Sumitomo Corp. The five businesses import everything from metals to food into Japan and provide services to manufacturers.

The Dow kicked off the week with three new constituents and with Apple having a much smaller influence on the 30-stock average.

At Monday’s open, Salesforce, Amgen and Honeywell were included in the Dow, replacing longtime component Exxon Mobil, Pfizer and Raytheon Technologies.

Prices for the 10-Year Treasury were unchanged, keeping yields at Friday’s 0.72%.

Oil prices regained seven cents to $43.04 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices picked up one dollar to $1,975.90 U.S. an ounce.


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