Canada's main stock index remained positive on Tuesday as strong U.S. economic growth data drove gains in most of its major sectors.
The S&P/TSX composite index gained 44.94 points – off its highs of the morning -- to greet noon at 15,060.35
The Canadian dollar gained 0.19 cents to 88.83 cents U.S.
The Toronto stock market's benchmark TSX index has been gaining steadily since a slump in October, but has yet to reach the record levels it hit in September.
Shares in consumer staples moved higher as Alimentation Couche-Tard skyrocketed 2.5% to $39.15.
Shares of energy producers retreated after an initial advance. Canadian Natural Resources dipped 0.2% to $41.93, though Enbridge was up 1.5% at $53.23.
Spurred by a gain in the bullion price, the gold-mining sector climbed. Goldcorp added 1.2% to $23.31, and Barrick Gold rose 0.2% to $14.25.
Economically speaking, Statistics Canada reported this morning that retail sales rose 0.8% in September to $42.8 billion, largely as a result of higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
The agency says retail sales have been on an upward swing since early this year. Gains were reported in five of 11 sub-sectors, representing 59% of retail trade.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange subsided 6.28 points to 781.22.
All but one of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher by noon, as consumer staples rallied 1.1%, while metals and mining and industrials stocks each surged 0.9%.
Energy proved the lone negative, dropping 0.9%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks were flat on Tuesday, after a reading of consumer confidence unexpectedly fell to its weakest level since June.
The Dow Jones Industrials nosed ahead 6.78 points by midday to 17,824.68
The S&P 500 slipped 1.24 points at 2,068.17. The NASDAQ index gained 2.40 points to 4,757.29.
Apple rose 0.5% to $119.23 U.S., pushing the tech giant's market cap above $700 billion U.S. for the first time.
Tiffany & Co rose 2.4% to $107.60 U.S. after same-store sales growth beat expectations.
Workday Inc late Monday forecast fiscal 2016 revenue below expectations, sending shares down 6%to $86.96 U.S.
Energy shares were the weakest performers of the day, ahead of an OPEC meeting that could cut output. Exxon Mobil Corp fell 1.2% to $94.61 U.S. while Chevron Corp was off 1.5 percent to $115.87 U.S.
On matters economic, the U.S. Commerce Department reported gross domestic product climbed at a 3.9% annualized rate, up from an initial 3.5% estimate.
November consumer confidence fell to 88.7 from October's revised 94.1. Expectations were for a reading of 96.
Separately, a gauge of home prices in 20 cities climbed at a reduced pace in September
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries were higher, lowering yields to 2.29% from Monday’s 2.32%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices picked up 59 cents to $76.37 U.S.
Gold prices progressed $3.30 to $1,199.00 U.S.
