The TSX further trimmed earlier gains by Thursday’s close but continued to get support from firming energy and health-care shares.
The S&P/TSX composite index leaped 112.71 points to close Thursday at 15,326.31
The Canadian dollar faded 0.29 cents to 79.41 cents U.S.
Health-care issues proved the star, as Extendicare gained 15 cents, or 2%, to $7.63. Catamaran added 0.6% to $74.66, after completing its acquisition of Healthcare Solutions.
Energy stocks such as Imperial Oil gained $1.05, or 2.1%, to $53.20.
Miners were deeper into the negative territory, albeit only moderately lower. Sherritt International docked 1.4% to $2.18, while Teck Resources added a penny to $17.55
Financials rose as Royal Bank gained 68 cents, or 0.9%, to $79.08.
Among gold plays, Barrick Gold gained 21 cents, or 1.4%, to $15.63.
Bombardier was the most actively traded stock, finishing flat at $2.60.
On the economic front, Statistics Canada reported that municipalities issued building permits worth $6.1 billion in February, edging down 0.9% from the previous month. This was the second consecutive monthly decline.
Lower construction intentions in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta were responsible for the decrease at the national level.
StatsCan’s new housing price index crept up 0.2% in February, after a 0.1% drop in January.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange finished positive 2.12 points to 691
All but four of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher Thursday, led by health-care 2.1%, better, energy, improving 1.5% and industrials, advancing 1%,
The four laggards were weighed by global base metals, down 0.6%, while metals and mining, fading 0.2%, and materials, sliding 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed higher on Thursday after trading in a narrow range as investors digested earnings reports, a rebound in oil prices and looked for more signals on the timing of an interest rate hike.
The Dow Jones Industrials regained 56.22 points by the close to 17,958.73. Both Chevron and Exxon Mobil were among the blue-chip gainers. General Electric led advancers and Home Depot and McDonald's were the greatest laggards.
The S&P 500 index picked up 9.28 points to 2,091.18, with energy leading eight sectors higher and utilities lagging.
The NASDAQ index moved higher 23.75 points to 4,974.57
Costco reported a 2% drop in March comparable store sales, a slightly larger decrease than the consensus forecast of a 1.2% decline.
On the earnings front, Alcoa, the former Dow component, reported adjusted quarterly profit of 28 cents U.S. per share, two cents above estimates, though revenue was below analyst forecasts. CEO Klaus Kleinfeld said Alcoa's growth compared to a year earlier was due entirely from new businesses.
JPMorgan Chase and Intel post earnings next Tuesday as quarterly reports get underway.
Before Thursday's open, Walgreens Boots Alliance reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.18 U.S. per share, beating estimates of 95 cents U.S. Revenue, however, was below Street forecasts.
The company revealed plans to close about 200 U.S. stores, and put other streamlining measures into place that will save $1.5 billion U.S. annually by the end of 2017.
Constellation Brands reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.03 U.S. per share, nine cents above estimates, with revenue essentially in line. The company also initiated a quarterly dividend of 31 cents U.S. per share.
PriceSmart and Ruby Tuesday were due to report after the bell.
Jobless claims came in at 281,000, slightly above lowered expectations, but an increase from last week.
Wholesale trade data came in slightly higher than expected, up 0.3%. However, weak sales provide less incentive for wholesalers to build their inventories.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries dropped, raising yields to 1.96% from Wednesday’s 1.91%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices remained positive 11 cents to $50.53 U.S.
Gold prices dipped $8.80 to $1,194.3 0 U.S.
