The Toronto stock market posted a triple-digit advance late in the day on Monday as sharply higher commodity prices boosted mining and energy stocks.
The S&P/TSX composite index acquired 74.03 points to close Monday at 15,100.65.
The Canadian dollar settled 0.02 cents to 80.14 cents U.S.
Gold stocks led the charge, with Barrick Gold spiking 82 cents, or 5.5%, to $15.75, and Detour Gold climbing 62 cents, or 5.5%, to $11.94.
Among base metals, Turquoise Hill Resources skyrocketed 41 cents, or 10.1%, to close at $4.48, while Sherritt International gained 12 cents, or 5.7%, to $2.22.
Energy stocks were also big winners, as Canyon Services Group surged 93 cents, or 13.5%, to $7.81, while Lightstream Resources took on 17 cents, or 18.7%, to $1.08.
Among the few dissenters was the industrial group, home to WestJet Airlines, which slumbered $1.29, or 4.3%, to $28.50, while Wajax Corp., slumped 80 cents, or 3.3%, to $23.49.
On the economic front, Western University’s Ivey PMI stood at 47.9 in March, compared to 49.7 in February, and 55.2 in March 2014.
The index, surveying purchasing managers, asks if they increased, decreased or kept their purchases the same over the month. A figure above 50 shows an increase while below 50 shows a decrease.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 5.64 points to 688.66
All but three of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher, as gold brightened 2.9%, metals and mining hiked 2.2%, and energy gushed 2%.
The three downers proved to be industrials, sliding 0.4%, health-care, ailing 0.3%, and consumer staples, off 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed higher on Monday, rebounding from initial losses on the disappointing jobs report as weak data renewed hopes of a delayed increase in interest rates.
The Dow Jones Industrials hiked 117.61 points to end the day at 17,880.85, with Microsoft leading advancers and Johnson and Johnson the greatest of five blue chip laggards.
The S&P 500 index gained 13.67 points to 2,080.63. Utilities proved the second-highest sector and financials gaining the least.
The NASDAQ leaped 30.38 points to 4,917.32
Alcoa reports quarterly results this Wednesday in the unofficial start to the earnings season.
In U.S. corporate news, Tesla delivered 10,030 vehicles during the first quarter, its highest quarterly total ever and a 55% increase over the first quarter of 2014.
Lorillard and Reynolds American closed higher as investors sought guidance on whether a proposed merger between the tobacco giants will be allowed to proceed.
The stocks fell in recent weeks on sentiment that it would be rejected, but reports emerged late last week that the Federal Trade Commission was leaning towards a proposed compromise that would allow it to go through.
The ISM non-manufacturing Index was 56.5 in March, its lowest level in three months. The Markit Purchasing Managers Index rose to 59.2 in March, the highest level since August.
Futures plunged on Friday after the monthly employment report showed the addition of 126,000 jobs, far below the estimated 245,000.
With the weaker jobs report, PNC's economics team pushed back its expectations of a rate hike to September from the previous estimate for a July liftoff.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries gained ground, lowering yields to 1.90% from Thursday’s 1.91%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices grew $2.78 to $51.92 U.S.
Gold prices jumped $14.10 to $1,215.80 U.S.
