Markets in Canada’s biggest centre fell on Thursday as energy stocks tracked oil prices lower ahead of a meeting of major oil producers, while the materials and financials groups also declined.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index dropped 20.71 points to open Thursday at 14,042.83.
The Canadian dollar lost 0.19 cents to 76.28 cents U.S.
Suncor Energy's gas stations across Canada's western provinces were grappling with fuel shortages because of wildfire-triggered production cuts along with an unplanned unit outage at the company's Edmonton refinery
Suncor shares moved higher 11 cents to $35.47
Raymond James raised the price target on Husky Energy to $16.00 from $15.00, with a market perform rating.
Husky shares gained six cents to $15.24.
Citigroup raised the target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank to $65.00 from $60.00, with a buy rating.
TD shares started Thursday down three cents to $57.33.
Barclays raised the price target on National Bank of Canada to $41.00 from $38.00, with an equal weight rating.
National shares hiked 97 cents, or 1.9%, to $44.05.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 1.52 points to 677.54
Eight of the 13 TSX subgroups were pointed upward, led by health-care, gold and consumer staples, each up 0.5%.
The five laggards were weighed most by metals and mining, down 1.5%, energy, down 0.6%, and financials, sliding 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded lower Thursday, with energy leading decliners as oil prices fell, as traders awaited the employment report due Friday morning.
The Dow Jones Industrials faded 57.46 points to 17,732.25, with Exxon Mobil leading decliners and Johnson & Johnson the top advancer.
The S&P 500 dipped 9.25 points at 2,090.08, with energy leading nine sectors lower and health-care the only advancer.
The NASDAQ Composite slumped 12.79 points to 4,939.47.
In U.S. economic news, the private sector ADP payroll report was 173,000 in May, a touch below expectations for 175,000 jobs. The April report was revised up to 166,000 from 156,000.
OPEC agreed to no change in policy and no output ceiling, according to media reports, citing a delegate.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury hiked, lowering yields to 1.81% from Wednesday’s 1.84%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices slid 71 cents a barrel to $48.30 U.S.
Gold prices added 40 cents to $1,213.38 U.S. an ounce.
