Canada's main stock index touched its highest level in more than two weeks on Tuesday as positive U.S. economic data helped drive advances in every major sector.
The S&P/TSX composite index spiked 138.70 points to close Tuesday at 15,477.17. The index ran its win streak to four, and hiked its gains for the year so far to 13%.
The Canadian dollar faded 0.47 cents at 91.50 cents U.S.
Financials climbed with Royal Bank of Canada rising 1.5% to $81.60 and Bank of Montreal gaining 1.1% to $81.29.
Shares of energy producers jumped as Suncor Energy added 1.3% to $43.25, and Canadian Natural Resources advanced 2.1% to $45.90.
Alimentation Couche-Tard climbed 1.4% to $31.33, amid reports that the retailer was among suitors short-listed to buy a $16-billion minority stake in China's Sinopec Sales, the world's largest fuel retail network.
Leading the charge, however, were health-care stocks, headed by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, up $5.13, or 4.3%, to $124.72.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 6.94 points to 997.56
All but three of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher, led by health-care, up 2%, energy, surging 1.9%, and consumer discretionary stocks, up 0.8%.
The three laggards were global base metals, down 0.8%, metals and mining, off 0.3%, and gold, sliding 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks ended higher for the second straight session on Tuesday as upbeat housing market data and strong earnings from Dow component Home Depot overshadowed lingering concerns about the conflict in Ukraine.
The Dow Jones Industrials took on 80.85 points to close at 16,919.59
The S&P 500 added 9.86 points to 1,981.60. The NASDAQ composite gained 19.20 points to 4,527.51
Apple shares rose 1.4% to end at $100.53 U.S., a closing record high for the tech bellwether when adjusted for the stock's June seven-for-one stock split.
The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday said construction on U.S. new homes rose 15.7% in July to an annual rate of 1.09 million versus 973,000 in June. Economists had penciled in July starts of 975,000. The decline in new construction in June also was revised to a much smaller drop.
In other economic news, the U.S. Labor Department said consumer prices rose 0.1% in July, matching forecasts.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries drooped, raising yields to 2.41% from Monday’s 2.39%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices withered $2.45 to $94.92 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices plummeted $18.20 at $1,296.20 U.S. an ounce.
