Equity markets in Canada took a mini-header Thursday, on losses in resources sector such as gold and energy.
The S&P/TSX Composite docked 96.6 points to conclude business Thursday at 14,134.46
The Canadian dollar lost 0.23 cents to 76.94 cents U.S.
Kinross Gold crumpled 43 cents, or 5.8%, in price to $7.01, while Eldorado Gold faltered 29 cents, or 4.4%, to $6.26.
Among energy plays, Baytex Energy suffered 21 cents, or 2.8%, to $7.22, while Canadian Natural Resources slid $1.20, or 2.9%, to $39.55.
Health-care stocks led gainers, as Valeant Pharmaceuticals took on 80 cents, or 2.7% to $30.62, while Concordia International prospered $1.41, or 5.4%, to $27.36.
In the tech field, BlackBerry was unchanged at $8.45.
On the economic agenda, Statistics Canada reports that building permits registered $6.8 billion in May, down 1.9% from the previous month. Lower construction intentions for commercial buildings in Quebec and Ontario and single-family homes in Ontario contributed most to the decrease.
Also, Western University reported its IVEY Purchasing Managers Index came in at 51.7 for June, compared to 49.4 in May, and 55.9 for June 2015.
The survey of purchasing managers monitors whether purchases increased, dwindled, or stayed the same during the month. Any reading over 50 suggests expansion.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange let go of 9.88 points to 747.77
Nine of the 13 subgroups were lower on the day, as gold fell 2.9%, materials were off 2.3%, and energy sagged 1.5%.
Three gainers proved to be health-care, up 2%, information technology, up 0.2%, and consumer discretionary stocks, nosing up 0.1%. Industrials were unchanged on the day.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded mostly lower Thursday, weighed by sharp declines in oil prices, ahead of the highly anticipated jobs report due Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrials swooned 22.74 points to 17,895.88, with Chevron, UnitedHealth and Exxon Mobil having the greatest negative impact.
The S&P 500 dipped 1.83 to 2,097.90, after earlier attempting to hold the psychologically key 2,100 level. Utilities and telecoms lagged, while energy traded more than 1.5% lower as one of the greatest decliners.
The NASDAQ Composite Index improved 17.65 points to 4,876.81
On the earnings front, PepsiCo reported better-than-expected earnings. Barracuda Networks and Helen of Troy are among companies set to report after the bell.
Oil erased gains to trade lower after the EIA said weekly crude inventories declined 2.2 million barrels, far less than the 6.7 million barrel drawdown the American Petroleum Institute reported late Wednesday.
Economically speaking, private sector jobs rose by 172,000 in June, versus consensus expectations of 159,000, according to a report Thursday from ADP and Moody's. Initial jobless claims came in at 254,000 for the week of July 2.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury sagged, raising yields to 1.39% from Wednesday’s 1.37%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices swooned $2.29 a barrel to $45.14 U.S.
Gold prices moved lower $6.70 to $1,360.40 U.S. an ounce.
