Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as investors welcomed signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, offering a measure of relief for a market headed for its worst monthly decline since June 2022.
The TSX ballooned 496.04 points or 1.6%, to 32,430.98.
The Canadian dollar was lower by 0.13 cents at 71.66 cents U.S.
Gold led the parade of winners, as Barrick Gold climbed $1.82, or 3.4%, to $55.32, while Aya Gold & Silver popped $1.50, or 7.8%, to $20.70.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 34.1 points, or 3.8%, to 943.23.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were still in the green midday with gold skyrocketing 4.8%, materials popping 4.1%, and health-care going 3.6% higher.
The two laggards were consumer staples and telecoms, each down 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks rose on Tuesday following new reports giving investors hope that the U.S.-Iran war could soon come to an end.
The Dow Jones Industrials index popped 512,70 points, or 1.1%, to 45,728.84
The S&P 500 index recovered 95.28 points, or 1.5%, to 6,439.
The NASDAQ revived 413.40 points, or 2%, to 21,208.34.
Tuesday marks the final day of the month. The S&P 500 is down 7.8% in March. If that decline holds, it would be the benchmark’s worst monthly performance since September 2022 — when it plunged 9.3%.
The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump had told aides he was willing to end military hostilities in the Middle East even if the Strait of Hormuz remained largely shut.
Technology, which has been under pressure since the conflict began, rose broadly. Nvidia climbed 3%, and Microsoft advanced 1.5%.
Still, crude prices remained higher after Bloomberg reported that Iran struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters. The Dubai government’s media office said in a post on X that no injuries were reported and that “the safety of all 24 crew members has been secured.”
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained, lowering yields to 4.33% from Monday’s 4.34%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices leaped $1.79 to $104.67 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices gained $95.40 to $4,621,40 U.S. an ounce.
