Stocks in Canada’s biggest centre gained to end the first day of a short week, powered mostly by health and consumer stocks.
The TSX drifted closer to the breakeven as the closing bell drew near, but still managed to gain 36.82 points to 19,608.37.
The Canadian dollar sifted off 0.09 cents to 82.89 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks led the attack, with Aurora Cannabis jumping 59 cents, or 6.4% to $9.75, while Canopy Growth gained $1.43, or 5.2%, to $29.14.
Among consumer staple stocks, Saputo triumphed 68 cents, or 1.7%, to $40.29, while Jamieson Wellness leaped 47 cents, or 1.3%, to $38.21.
Among tech stocks, Hut 8 Mining added 33 cents, or 6.9%, to $5.11, while Lightspeed POS flew $2.67, or 3.1%, to $87.64.
Energy stocks pulled things down, however. Crescent Point Energy dropped 14 cents, or 2.9%, to $4.63, while Vermilion Energy lost 26 cents, or 2.9%, to $8.74.
In the consumer discretionary sector, Magna International sank $2.30, or 2%, to $115.18, while Aritzia lost 42 cents, or 1.4%, to $29.53.
In utilities, Superior Plus gave back 24 cents, or 1.6%, to $14.92, while Boralex dipped 50 cents, or 1.4%, to $36.35.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange retreated 2.26 points to 954.96.
Eight of the 12 subgroups remained in positive territory throughout the day, led by health-care, better by 2%, consumer staples, stronger by 0.7%, while information technology moved higher 0.6%.
The four laggards were weighed most by energy, slipping 0.8%, consumer discretionary, down 0.6%, while utilities finished 0.1% lower.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks wiped out earlier gains and finished Tuesday’s session lower as the market struggled for a direction.
The Dow Jones Industrials shed earlier gains and lost 81.52 points to end Tuesday at 34,312.46.
The S&P 500 fell 8.92 points to 4,188.13, dragged by the energy sector.
The NASDAQ ducked four points to 13,657.17.
Big Tech shares Apple and Netflix both erased an earlier advance and dipped into negative territory. Amazon shares came under pressure after Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said he’s suing the e-commerce giant on antitrust grounds.
He alleged Amazon’s practices have unfairly raised prices for consumers and suppressed innovation. But shares eventually rose 0.4% on the day.
Airlines and cruise lines provided the broader market with some support. United Airlines jumped 1.5% after the carrier said yields on domestic leisure tickets purchased this month topped 2019 levels amid the reopening. Boeing also gained 1.4%. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean rose more than 3% each.
Bitcoin’s recent rout, which has hit tech stocks like Tesla and dented overall investor sentiment, stabilized on Monday.
The cryptocurrency was back near $38,000 early Tuesday after falling below $32,000 at one point on Sunday. Crypto prices rebounded as Elon Musk said he was having discussions with bitcoin miners regarding sustainability.
Tesla, a big holder of bitcoin, fell 0.3%. Crypto-exchange Coinbase gained 7.6% with the shares also getting a boost from a JPMorgan buy call.
Prices for 10-Year Treasurys gained ground, lowering yields to 1.56% Monday’s 1.60%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices handed over 16 cents to $65.89 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices hiked $16.10 to $1,900.60 U.S. an ounce.
