Equities in Canada’s largest centre slumped by noon hour EDT on Monday.
The TSX ducked 42.81 points to pause for lunch at 18,808.51.
The Canadian dollar dropped 0.27 cents to 79.92 cents U.S.
Canaccord Genuity raised the rating on Crew Energy to speculative buy from hold. Crew shares inched up a penny to $1.17.
JP Morgan raises target price on Franco-Nevada to $205.00 from $198.00. Franco-Nevada jumped $2.28, or 1.5%, to $152.74.
Citigroup raised price target on TCP Energy to $67.00 from $65.00. TCP shares took on nine cents to $58.33.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada said manufacturing sales rose 3.1% to $56.2 billion in January, exceeding the level observed before the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020) for the first time.
Higher sales of wood products, computer and electronic products, and primary metals contributed the most to the gains.
Elsewhere, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported the trend in housing starts was 242,777 units in February, down from 244,963 units in January. The Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of urban starts decreased by 14% in February to 231,042 units.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange stayed buoyant 6.47 points to 988.70.
The 12 TSX subgroups were evenly split, with communications leaping 6.1%, health-care better by 2.1%, and gold 1.2% to the good.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed most by energy, sliding 1.8%, financials, down 0.8%, and industrials, off 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks retreated from their record highs on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipping for its first session in seven.
The 30-stock index moved lower by noon 72.89 points to 32,705.75.
The S&P dipped 8.6 points, to 3,934.66.
The NASDAQ Composite gained 8.61 points to 13,328.48.
Stocks that will benefit most from a swift economic comeback from the pandemic led the gains. American Airlines took off 9% and United Airlines shares gained 8% worth of lift.
As a part of the $1.9-trillion stimulus package that became law last week, the IRS started processing $1,400 direct payments for millions of Americans, which is expected to add juice to the already recovering economy.
Air travel over the weekend hit its highest level in more than a year as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out and Americans return to vacationing.
Stocks hit their lows of the day as Italy joined Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands in suspending the use of the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford over blood clot concerns.
Investors will be gearing up for Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will deliver its decision on interest rates. The central bank is expected to acknowledge much better growth in the economy. Bond pros are also watching to see whether Fed officials will tweak their interest rate outlook, which now does not include any rate hikes through 2023.
On the vaccine front, President Joe Biden announced last week that he would direct states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1. Biden also set a goal for Americans to be able to gather in person with their friends and loved ones in small groups to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Prices for 10-Year Treasurys moved higher, dropping yields to 1.60% from Friday’s 1.63%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices faltered $1.03 to $64.58 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices grew $5.50 to $1,725.30.
