Equities in Canada’s largest centre built on early gains, and muscled up into triple-digit territory by midday Monday.
The TSX leaped 192.16 points, to pause for lunch at 18,573.12
The Canadian dollar dropped 0.19 cents at 78.96 cents U.S.
On a day without macroeconomic figures to consider, news came out that Canada's health regulator will launch a public consultation program on Monday in its draft guidance for individuals growing medical cannabis at home, hoping to clamp down on people selling weed on the black market.
Mullen Group was among the mightiest gainers, growing 76 cents, or nearly 7%, to $11.68, after the freight transportation provider agreed to acquire Apps Transport Group, while Imperial Oil Limited rose 89 cents, or nearly 3%, to $30.89.
Hudbay Minerals blundered 16 cents, or 1.8%, to reach noon at $8.93, while Ivanhoe Mines made its way into positive territory, eking up two cents to $7.82.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange climbed 21.46 points, or 2.3%, to begin move into noon hour at 939.42.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were positive as morning became afternoon, with consumer discretionary surging 2.4%, health-care haler by 2.2%, and information technology soaring 1.5%.
The two laggards were gold, slipping 0.8%, and energy, off 0.03%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks climbed on Monday as investors cheered Senate approval of a new COVID stimulus package, piling into shares best-positioned to benefit from an economic comeback.
The Dow Jones Industrials popped 433.73, or 1.4%, points to move into noon hour at 31,930.03
The S&P leaped 20.89 points to 3,862.35.
The NASDAQ Composite remained negative, however, 75.1 points to 12,845.04.
Disney shares added nearly 4% after California eased COVID rules, paving the way for Disneyland to reopen on a limited basis in April. American Airlines jumped 4%, while United Airlines popped 6%. Target rose 2.7%
The Senate passed a $1.9-trillion economic relief and stimulus bill on Saturday, paving the way for extensions to unemployment benefits, another round of stimulus checks and aid to state and local governments.
The Democrat-controlled House is expected to pass the bill later this week. President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law before unemployment aid programs expire on March 14.
Prices for 10-Year Treasurys sagged, raising yields to 1.59% from Friday’s 1.57%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices shed 78 cents to $65.31 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices dulled $15.20 to $1,683.30.
