Markets in Canada’s largest centre closed marginally lower on the last trading day before Christmas, despite positive moves made by gold and health-care concerns
The S&P/TSX Composite docked 7.08 points to close the final session before Christmas at 15,328.15, ending its winning streak at six sessions.
The Canadian dollar sank 0.53 cents to 73.91 cents U.S.
Markets in Toronto are to be shuttered Monday and Tuesday for Christmas and Boxing Day, returning to trading on Wednesday.
One of the most influential gainers on the index was Barrick Gold, which advanced 65 cents, or 3.4%, to $19.69. Rival Iamgold Corp rose 16 cents, or 3.6% to $4.55.
In the materials sector, shares of uranium producer Cameco Corp nine cents to $14.21 after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for expanded U.S. nuclear weapon capability.
Health-care stocks registered positive, as Canopy Growth Corporation took on four cents to $9.35, while Valeant Pharmaceuticals hiked 17 cents to $19.38.
In the oil patch, Crescent Point Energy tumbled 36 cents, or 1.9%, to $18.17, while Baytex Energy slid nine cents, or 1.4%, to $6.52.
Consumer staples also failed to crack the surface Friday, as Metro Inc. stuttered seven cents to $40.19, while Loblaw Companies dropped four cents to $70.62.
Among financials, several major banks and insurers weighed on the overall index. Sun Life Financial Inc slipped 46 cents to $51.69 and Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd lost $8.60, or 1.3%, to $659.68.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported the economy lost some steam during October, as gross domestic product was down 0.3%, after four straight upward months.
The agency said widespread decreases in manufacturing output and lower oil and gas extraction were the major contributors to the decline.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 7.98 points, or 1.1%, to 728.13
All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher on the day, with gold spiking 2.2%, materials better by 1%, and health-care climbing 0.6%.
The three laggards were energy, down 0.7%, while consumer staples and financials, each trailed 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. equities finished marginally positive on Friday ahead of the Christmas holiday, as the Dow Jones industrial average failed again to reach the psychologically important level of 20,000.
The Dow moved barely into positive territory 14.8 points to 19,933.68, with American Express leading advancers and Microsoft the biggest decliner.
The S&P 500 picked up 2.83 points to 2,263.79, with health-care leading six sectors higher and consumer discretionary the top decliner. Health-care is the worst performing S&P sector for the year, having fallen more than 3%.
The NASDAQ composite index added 15.27 points to 5,462.69
The three major indexes were on track to post slight weekly gains as of Thursday's close.
Trading volume in the U.S. has evaporated this week, as most investors and traders have left their offices in light of the Christmas holiday. U.S. markets will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday.
In economic news, consumer sentiment for December came in at 98.2, above the expected read of 98.0. New home sales rose 5.2% last month, more than expected.
Overseas, investors kept an eye on European banks, after Italy approved a state bailout for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world's oldest bank and the country's third-largest lender.
Meanwhile, Credit Suisse agreed in principle to pay U.S. authorities $2.48 billion to settle claims it misled investors in residential mortgage-backed securities it sold in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis. Germany's Deutsche Bank also agreed to settle a separate lawsuit with the U.S. government.
Treasury prices for the 10-year note were higher, lowering yields to 2.54% from Thursday’s 2.56%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices eked up 11 cents to $53.06 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices gained $2.70 to $1,133.40 U.S. an ounce.
