Equities in Toronto recovered from Wednesday’s losses by Thursday’s closing bell, mostly on the strength of tech and communications issues.
The TSX ended the day positive 69.92 points Thursday at 20,345.19.
The Canadian dollar sifted off 0.11 cents to 74.41 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks were off with Tilray taking most of the punishment, losing 32 cents, or 8.3%, to $3.52, while Bausch Health Companies slid 35 cents, or 2.9%, to $11.25.
In consumer discretionary stocks, Canadian Tire was hammered $8.22, or 4.7%, to $165.68, while Sleep Country Canada slumbered 90 cents, or 3.4%, to $25.75.
In industrials, Ballard Power Systems dumped 25 cents, or 3.9%, to $6.19, while Cargojet tumbled $1.97, or 2.1%, to $92.02.
Communications pointed the way higher, though, with Quebecor rumbling $1.20, or 3.9%, to $32.35, while Comeco Communications jumping $1.14, or 1.8%, to $66.41.
In tech issues, Sylogist Ltd. collected 30 cents, or 4.3%, to $7.26, while Docebo picked up $!.74, or 3.7%, to $49.23.
In consumer staples, Primo Water gushed $1.70, or 9.1%, to $20.32, while Empire Company zoomed 71 cents, or 2%, to $36.68.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 2.29 points to 605.84.
Six of the 12 TSX subgroups were in negative country by the final bell. Health-care weighed things down 2.9%, while consumer discretionary and industrials each fell 0.6%.
The five gainers were led by communications, up 1.5%, while information technology progressed 1.3%, and consumer staples forged ahead 1.1%.
Real-estate issues were unchanged.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded near flat Thursday, despite a post-earnings Disney rally and a key inflation reading showing slightly less year-over-year inflation growth than expected.
The 30-stock index held onto gains of 52.39 points to end Thursday at 35,175.75.
The S&P 500 nicked up 1.12 points to 4,468.83.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ gathered 15.97 points to 13,737.75.
Meanwhile, Disney gained 4.8% and was the best performer in the Dow after announcing an upcoming price hike for ad-free Disney+ subscriptions. The media giant also reported fiscal third-quarter earnings per share that beat expectations. Wynn Resorts advanced 2.6% on a better-than-expected report.
July consumer prices gained 3.2% on an annual basis, less than the 3.3% consensus from economists polled by Dow Jones. On a month-to-month basis, inflation increased 0.2%, in-line with estimates. The report also said real average weekly earnings were unchanged last month in another positive sign.
Still, the report had some signs of sticky inflation. Excluding food and energy, the so-called core July CPI reading was up 4.7% on an annual basis, far above the Fed’s 2% target. And headline inflation was above the 3% annual rate in June.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury sagged, raising yields to 4.11% from Wednesday’s 4%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices faded $1.64 to $82.76 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices sank $4.50 to $1,946.10 U.S. an ounce.
