Equities in Toronto squeaked higher, building on earlier gains, as health-care stocks continued to rally on support from ProMetic Life Sciences
The S&P/TSX composite index remained positive 22.61 points to close Tuesday at 14,491.05
The Canadian dollar slid 0.13 cents to 75.89 cents U.S.
Markets in Toronto were closed for the Civic Holiday.
Gold stocks proved the weakest of the bunch Tuesday, as Kinross Gold was thumped 19 cents, or 7.9%, to $2.21, while Iamgold Corp. suffered 15 cents or 7.5%, to $1.84.
Metals and mining stocks also had a rough time of it, particularly Sherritt International, bruised seven cents, or 5.2%, to $1.27, while HudBay Minerals fell 30 cents, or 3.6%, to $8.13
Among gainers, consumer staples proved strongest, as Saputo moved higher $1.43, or 4.8%, to $31.40, while Cott Corporation climbed 60 cents, or 4.1%, to $15.33.
In the health-care field, Valeant Pharmaceutical ballooned $7.40, or 2.2%, to $342.72.
Meanwhile, ProMetic was up 11 cents, or 4.9%, to $2.37, after its plasma-derived plasminogen drug has been granted an orphan drug designation status by the European Commission for the treatment of plasminogen deficiency.
Bombardier was the most actively traded stock, gaining two cents, or 1.2% to $1.65, on 9.9 million shares.
On the economic calendar, the RBC Canadian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' index, a measure of manufacturing business conditions, rolled in for June this morning.
At 50.8 in July, the seasonally adjusted PMI dipped from June's six-month high of 51.3 but remained above the neutral 50.0 threshold.
The latest reading was still stronger than the average for 2015 so far (49.9), and signaled a marginal upturn in manufacturing sector business conditions.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell 4.43 points to 589.88
Eight of the 14 TSX subgroups were lower on the day, as gold dulled in price 2.8%, metals and mining faded 2.4%, and materials backtracked 1.2%.
The half-dozen gainers were led upwards by consumer staples, progressing 2.2%, health-care, haler by 1.6%, and consumer discretionary issues, putting on 1.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed lower on Tuesday as investors eyed further declines in Apple's stock and slight recovery in oil prices, amid continued focus on the timing of a rate hike.
The Dow Jones industrial average backtracked 47.51 points to 17,550.69, with Microsoft leading advancers and Apple the greatest decliner.
The S&P 500 fell 4.68 points to 2,093.36, with utilities leading eight sectors lower and materials and consumer discretionary the only advancers.
The NASDAQ index slipped 9.84 points to 5,105.55
The iPhone maker's stock is in correction territory after plunging below its 200-day moving average on Monday. Trade volume was about 62 million in late morning trade, surpassing its 30-day average volume of 47 million shares. Shares of suppliers Skyworks, Cirrus, Vishay andAvago all plunged in sympathy.
In corporate news, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals jumped 4.8% to an all-time high after the soundly topping estimates on both the top and bottom line. The firm raised its U.S. sales growth forecast for its macular degeneration drug Eyelea to 45-50% from the prior 30-35%.
Shares of Twitter closed up 0.2% but closed below $30 U.S. for the second day in a row after ending under the psychologically key level for the first time on Monday amid growth concerns.
After the market close Disney, Zillow, Activision Blizzard, Cerner, LendingClub, Pioneer Natural Resources, Dreamworks, Etsy, First Solar and Newfield Exploration are scheduled to report results.
On the data front, June factory orders figures showed an increase of 1.8%. On Wednesday, markets will be watching for the ADP employment report, which comes ahead of the labour report on Friday.
The major averages briefly extended losses after Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart, a voting member, told the Wall Street Journal that the economy appears ready for a rate hike in September. Analysts noted slight surprise at the unscheduled remarks. Yields rose and the dollar gained against world currencies.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries sagged, raising yields to 2.22% from Monday’s 2.21%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices hiked 61 cents a barrel to $45.78 U.S.
Gold prices moved lower $2.60 to $1,086.60 U.S. an ounce.
