Stocks in Toronto enjoyed a higher opening on Friday, as metals stocks led advancers.
The S&P/TSX composite index acquired 19.36 points to begin Friday at 15,411.71
The Canadian dollar faded 0.08 cents to 82.26 cents U.S.
Strongest of the bunch appeared to be the metals and mining sector, led by Capstone Mining, climbing 10.5 cents, or 8%, to $1.43, while First Quantum Minerals jacked up 86 cents, or 5.2%, to $17.41.
Among materials, Canfor Corporation hiked 77 cents, or 3.3%, to $24.11, while Labrador Iron Ore Royalty gained 61 cents, or 4.5%, to begin the day at $14.28.
The only sour note, it appeared, was struck by the tech sector, as Celestica took it on the chin 18 cents, or 1.2%, to $14.62. BlackBerry shares were unchanged at $12.50.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eked up 0.01 points to 699.49
All but one of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher in the first hour of trade, led by metals and mining, spiking 3.2%, their cousins among global base metals, leaping 2.4%, and materials, ahead 0.9%.
The lone holdout was in information technology, slouching 0.04%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded mostly higher on Friday on continued momentum from Thursday's high levels as investors cheered major earnings reports and viewed developments in Greece debt talks.
The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 17.72 points to 18,040.97, with Microsoft jumping 6.5% to lead blue chips and Nike the greatest laggard.
The S&P 500 index moved higher 1.23 points to 2,114.16, with consumer discretionary leading five sectors higher and health-care the greatest laggard.
The NASDAQ index gained 30.24 to 5,086.31
McDonald's surged 3% on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to a May presentation of a turnaround plan, despite the firm posting earnings that missed on both the top and bottom lines.
With no other economic data expected, major stocks to watch include Microsoft, Google, Amazon.com, and Starbucks, which reported earnings after the bell on Thursday.
Amazon spiked more than 15% and Starbucks briefly surged more than 4% as both stocks hit all-time highs on Friday.
Amazon.com earnings declined as expected but reported light guidance. Revenue did beat expectations with a boost from the e-commerce firm's primary market, North America.
Starbucks topped expectations for global same-store sales and beat on both the top and bottom lines.
The Apple Watch becomes available on Friday, ahead of Apple's earnings report after the close on Monday.
Biogen's stock was under pressure ahead of the bell after the company's first-quarter sales of Tecfidera, an oral multiple sclerosis drug, came in at $824.9 million U.S, below consensus estimates, according to Reuters.
Xerox shares fell more than 3% after the company posted quarterly earnings and revenue that missed analysts' expectations. The company also cut its full-year forecast amid a strong U.S. dollar.
AstraZeneca shares fell more than 3% in pre-market trading after the company reported that sales fell by 6% in the first quarter, citing a rising dollar and competition from Nexium generics, according to Reuters.
Cable stocks were in focus as Comcast announced on Friday that it ended pursuit of a deal to acquire Time Warner Cable for $45 billion U.S.
Futures briefly pared gains following durable goods that beat on the headline figure but showed a disappointing decline in the core figure.
Durable goods, ex-transportation, fell 0.2%, below expectations for a slight gain but less than February's 1.3% decline.
Including transportation, which tends to be volatile, the report posted an increase of 4% for March, surpassing expectations for a moderate bounce back, after February's disappointing 1.4% month-on-month drop.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries inched forward, lowering yields to 1.92% from Thursday’s 1.94%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices hesitated 89 cents to $56.85 U.S.
Gold prices dipped $6.90 to $1,187.40 U.S.
