Equities in Canada’s largest centre fell on Friday, dragged down by energy stocks after U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and negotiators failed to agree a U.S. fiscal stimulus package.
The TSX shed 87.07 points to open Friday at 16,097.47.
The Canadian dollar backtracked 0.18 cents to 75.31 cents U.S.
Crescent Point Energy fell three cents, or 2%, to $1.50, while Blackberry Ltd was down 15 cents, or 2.5%, to $5.95.
On the positive side, Canadian Pacific Railway jumped $2.71 to $403.81, and Canadian National Railway rose $1.38, or 1%, to $142.76 after multiple brokerages hiked the price target of both railroad operator's stock.
Canaccord Genuity cut the rating on Cineplex to sell from hold. Cineplex tailed off 40 cents, or 5.5%, to $6.89.
BMO cut the price target on Suncor Energy to $28.00 from $30.00. Suncor shares docked 31 cents, or 2%, to $15.19.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eased off 6.07 points to 711.85.
All but one of the 12 TSX subgroups were negative in the first hour, with energy slumping 2%, health-care sicker by 1.3%, and gold dulling in price 1.2%.
Only communications held out against the tide, inching up 0.03%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks fell on Friday after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average collapsed 234.19 points to 27,582.71.
The S&P 500 subtracted 27.37 points, to 3,353.43.
The NASDAQ slumbered 102.71 points to 11,223.80.
Stocks traded off their opening lows on some optimism Congress will come together on a coronavirus stimulus deal.
The House passed the $2.2-trillion Democratic coronavirus stimulus bill Thursday night, but Republicans oppose this package.
The president’s diagnosis added more uncertainty to the election, an event that was already weighing on the market and keeping traders on edge as they attempted to evaluate the possible outcomes.
Shares of stocks tied to the economy reopening fell as the news highlighted the risk of a second wave of the coronavirus and raised fears that maybe lawmakers would slow the pace at which they relaxed coronavirus measures.
White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo, "The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence."
Conley also said he expects Trump to "continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering."
Trump was experiencing "mild symptoms" after testing positive for the virus, according to media reports.
Shares of cruise lines and airlines were the biggest losers on Friday. Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line fell more than 1% each. American Airlines and United Airlines also both lost over 2%.
Technology shares also declined with Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook all losing about 1%. Tech stocks could come under pressure under a Democratic sweep scenario if it leads to higher tax rates and tighter regulations, many strategists have said.
Also weighing on the sentiment was a worse-than-expected September jobs report. Figures released Friday by the U.S. Labor Department showed non-farm payroll rose by 661,000 in September, in the final jobs report before the November election. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected a jobs gain of 800,000. The unemployment rate fell to 7.9% last month.
Prices for the 10-Year Treasury moved lower, raising yields to 0.69% from Thursday’s 0.68%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices retreated $1.46 to $37.26 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices sank six dollars to $1,910.30 U.S. an ounce.
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