As stocks celebrated new record readings south of the border, equities in Canada’s biggest market had a bit of trouble measuring up to breakeven, as resource and health-care stocks got battered.
The S&P/TSX Composite seesawed through much of Wednesday, but lost 19.47 points to close at 15,080.91
The Canadian dollar sank 0.31 cents at 74.09 cents U.S.
Financials were stronger as Manulife climbed 17 cents to $23.71, while TD gathered 39 cents a share to $63.98.
Among utilities, Fortis Inc. climbed 33 cents, to $40.89.
In the consumer discretionary sector, auctioneer Ritchie Bros. grew 41 cents to $51.63.
Gold stocks got plenty roughed up, though, as Barrick Gold was particularly bruised, 93 cents, or 4.5%, to $19.72, and rival Goldcorp faded 73 cents, or 4%, to $17.41
Among health-care issues, Valeant Pharmaceuticals staggered $1.11, or 4/6%, to $22.88. Rival Concordia International got tagged 53 cents, or 13.8%, to $3.32.
Materials also took the brunt of it, as Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan dropped 34 cents, or 1.4%, to $23.73.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange lost 2.54 points to 730.09
Eight of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher on the day, with utilities and financials each prospering 0.5%, and consumer discretionary stocks up 0.3%.
The four laggards were led by gold, off 4.6%, health-care, drooping 2.8%, and materials, subsiding 2.7%
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed mixed on Wednesday as investors digested a number of economic data, including minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve
The Dow Jones Industrials surged 58.49 points to break for holiday at 19,082.36 – yet another all-time high, with Caterpillar leading advancers and Microsoft the biggest decliner.
The S&P 500 recovered 1.78 points to 2,204.72, with real-estate leading five sectors lower and telecommunications leading advancers.
The NASDAQ composite index dropped 5.67 points to 5,380.68
Markets south of the border are closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. They will re-open for half a day on Friday.
The minutes released on Wednesday back the consensus view on Wall Street that the Fed is poised to raise rates in December.
Policymakers left borrowing costs unchanged earlier this month, just days before Republican Donald Trump triumphed in the Nov. 8 presidential contest.
In corporate news, Juno Therapeutics shares plunged more than 25%, after the firm announced complications with a drug trial.
Meanwhile, Eli Lilly's stock shed 10% after an experimental drug designed to fight Alzheimer's disease failed a trial.
Weekly jobless claims increased 18,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 251,000 for the week ended Nov. 19, the U.S. Labor Department said on Wednesday. That said, claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with a healthy labour market, for 90 straight weeks.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said U.S. durable goods increased 4.8% in October, well above a 1.5% consensus estimate.
Other data released Wednesday included the IHS Markit manufacturing index for November, which showed a slight increase to 53.9 from 53.4 in October. A reading above 50 signals expansion within the sector.
New home sales for October fell 1.9%, while consumer sentiment came in at 93.8, above a 91.6 estimate. The minutes from the Federal Reserve's meeting earlier this month are due for release at 2 p.m. ET. Experts said market expectations for a rate hike next month are more than 95%.
Treasury prices for the 10-year note dropped, raising yields to 2.36% from Tuesday’s 2.32%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices shed three cents to $48.00 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices went south $22.50 to $1,188.70 U.S. an ounce.
