Canada's main stock index ended Thursday virtually unchanged, as U.S.-China trade jitters resurfaced after U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a bill supporting protesters in Hong Kong, drawing sharp rebuke from Beijing.
The TSX Composite Index gained 13.95 points to close Thursday at 17,114.52
The Canadian dollar edged ahead 0.02 cents to 75.29 cents U.S.
Health-care concerns led the pack, as Aurora Cannabis added 14 cents, or 4.2%, to $3.50, while rival Canopy Growth gained 65 cents, or 2.6%, to $25.65.
Among gold stocks, Kirkland Lake Gold sprinted $1.65, or 3.1%, to $54.62, while Detour Gold moved higher 69 cents, or 3%, to $23.92.
In other resource stocks, Semafo gained five cents, or 1.9%, to $2.75.
Consumer staples did not have so good a time of it, with Alimentation Couche-Tard shrinking 63 cents, or 1.4%, to $43.76, while Cott Corporation slid nine cents to $17.71.
Real-estate stocks were slightly bruised as FirstService fell $1.49, or 1.2%, to $126.90, while Summit REIT lost seven cents to $12.84.
Tech issues suffered, as BlackBerry faded 11 cents, or 1.5%, to $7.34, while Enghouse Systems dipped 45 cents, or 1.1%. to $42.08.
On the economic calendar, Statistics Canada reported that average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $1,042 in September, up 0.9% from August.
Compared with September 2018, earnings grew by 4.0%, continuing an upward trend observed since March.
Oil prices were off 30 cents at $58.11 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices handed back 69 cents to $1,456.00 U.S. an ounce.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange sank 1.5 points to conclude Thursday at 532.31
The 12 Toronto subgroups evenly divided, with health-care stocks climbing 1.8%, gold better by 0.7%, and materials soaring 0.6%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed by consumer staples, down 0.3%, real-estate, off 0.2%, and information technology sliding 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. markets were shuttered for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. They will return Friday for a partial session.
