Canada's main stock index opened higher on Friday as investors assessed key jobs data, while markets awaited a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs.
The TSX climbed 203.45 points to begin the week’s last session at 32,682.09.
The Canadian dollar faded 0.11 cents to 72.02 cents U.S.
Among companies, Aritzia and Tilray Brands reported strong quarterly results on Wednesday.
Aritzia began Friday up $5.88, or 4.7%, to $131.13, while shares in Tilray gained 15 cents, or 1.2%, to $12.80.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported employment was little changed, adding 8,200 jobs and the unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 6.8%, as more Canadians searched for work.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange popped 10.05 points, or 1%, to 1,048.83.
All but one of the 12 TSX subgroups were positive to start Friday, with materials picking 1.5%, energy sprinting 1.4%, and consumer discretionary up 0.9%.
Only telecoms shed strength, and only 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 rose on Friday following the release of the latest jobs report.
The Dow Jones Industrials strengthened 57.51 points to 49,323.62.
The much-broader index took on 20.51 points to 6,941.97
The NASDAQ jumped 85.57 points to 23,557.38.
Stocks remain on track for a winning week. The S&P 500 is up about 1% week to date, while the Dow has built roughly 2.1%, and NASDAQ progressed 1.1%.
The December jobs report showed nonfarm payrolls increasing by 50,000 last month, less than the 73,000 that economists polled by Dow Jones had estimated.
That data, though slightly weaker than expected, showed a U.S. economy that’s still trudging along, with investors anticipating that growth will ramp up.
Additionally, the unemployment rate inched down to 4.4%, while economists had forecast 4.5%. Traders took that as a sign that improvement in the economy would happen soon.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury were static, keeping yields at Thursday’s 4.18%.
Oil prices gained $1.25 to $59.01 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices added $46.00 to $4,506.70.
