Canada's main stock index climbed on Friday after a softer-than-expected U.S. inflation report strengthened bets for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, while investors appeared undeterred by emerging trade frictions between the U.S. and Canada.
The TSX jumped 179.93 points by noon to 30,366.21. On the week, the index has gained 257 points, or 0.85%.
The Canadian dollar flopped 0.14 cents to 71.35 cents U.S.
The technology sector led the TSX's advance both for the day and week, posting 4.7% gains. Cryptocurrency miner Bitfarms saw its shares soar 57 cents midday, or 9.8%, to $6.39 after trading firm Jane Street revealed a 5% ownership stake in the company.
Air Canada, on investors’ radar screens, inched up three cents by noon EDT, to $18.37.
Materials, which recorded the week's worst performance with a 4.5% decline, gained 0.5% on Friday. Meanwhile, energy stocks were up 3.5% for the week and edged up 0.1% during the session.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 3.33 points to 967.56. On the week, the index has forged ahead two points, or 0.2%.
All but two of the 12 subgroups were positive as morning became afternoon, with information technology popping 2.8%, while financials improved 0.7% and telecoms advanced 0.5%.
The two laggards proved to be gold, down 0.4%, and health-care, off 0.04%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks reached new heights on Friday as cool inflation data spurred optimism among investors that the Federal Reserve can stay on its rate-cutting path, boosting the U.S. economy and justifying higher valuations for equities.
The Dow Jones Industrials vaulted 389.34 points, or 1.2%, to 47,277.72.
The much broader index jumped 64.73 points, or 1%, to 6,803.17
The NASDAQ regained 291.46 points, or 1.3 to 23,232.82.
All three major averages reached new all-time intraday highs in the session.
The September consumer price index report — which was delayed because of the U.S. government shutdown — rose 0.3% on the month, bringing the annual inflation rate to 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That’s just below the 0.4% and 3.1% that economists polled by Dow Jones had expected. When excluding food and energy, core CPI came in at 0.2% last month and 3% on a 12-month basis, also lighter than the Dow Jones forecasts for 0.3% and 3.1%, respectively.
Following the CPI data, traders increased their bets that the Fed will cut rates at both its remaining two meetings this year. Odds for a December cut initially jumped to 98.5% from roughly 91% odds before the data. Odds for a cut next week remained above 95%.
The markets largely ignored a proclamation from President Donald Trump that he was ending trade negotiations with Canada because of an advertisement used by Ontario featuring former President Ronald Reagan “speaking negatively” about tariffs. The ad, which Trump deemed “FAKE,” quotes Reagan’s presidential radio address from April 1987, in which the former president says that “trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer” in the long run.
A number of strong earnings results helped sentiment on Friday. Intel shares popped after the chipmaker reported third-quarter sales that exceeded analysts’ estimates.
Additionally, Procter & Gamble saw gains following its better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and revenue.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury moved upward, lowering yields to 3.99% from Thursday’s 4.01%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 41 cents to $62.20 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices changed course and gained $4.10 to $4,149.70. U.S. an ounce.
