Equity markets in Canada’s biggest centre played some catch-up, but remained south of breakeven by noon on Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and negotiators failed to agree a U.S. fiscal stimulus package.
The TSX was in the minus category by 46.21 points to greet noon hour at 16,138.33.
The Canadian dollar backtracked 0.12 cents to 75.14 cents U.S.
Crescent Point Energy, like some of its confreres, actually gained half a cent to $1.54, while Blackberry remained in the red, 22 cents, or 3.7%, to $5.87
Railways were in the spotlight, too, as Canadian Pacific Railway gave up earlier gains and lost 86 cents to $400.24, while Canadian National Railway rose 73 cents to $142.11, after multiple brokerages hiked the price target of both railroad operator's stock.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eased off 5.09 points to 712.83.
All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups were negative by noon, with health-care sinking 1.8%, information technology slumbering 1.3%, and consumer staples moving backward 0.8%.
The three gainers were energy, up 0.6%, communications, better by 0.2%, and financials, nosing up 0.1%.
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 was off its lows of the morning, but remained negative 177.62 points to 27,639.28.
The S&P 500 subtracted 30.71 points, to 3,350.09.
The NASDAQ tumbled 222.78 points, or 2%, to 11,103.73.
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 more than 2%.
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 0.70% from Thursday’s 0.68%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices retreated $1.31 to $37.41 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices sank $10.80 to $1,905.50 U.S. an ounce.
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