Equities in Canada’s largest centre finished barely in the green in July’s last session, as financials and telecoms did their best to counteract losses in the health-care sector.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index was positive 15.22 points to end Monday at 15,143.87
The Canadian dollar sprang up 0.53 cents to 80.2 cents U.S.
Among health-care stocks feeling around for the bruises Monday, Valeant Pharmaceuticals got hit 48 cents, or 2.3%, to $20.48, while Canopy Growth Corporation lost 13 cents, or 1.4%, to $9.02.
Tech stocks sagged, as BlackBerry docked 39 cents, or 3.2%, to $11.72
The energy group retreated, with Encana down five cents at $12.42 and MEG Energy slipped 22 cents, or 4.1%, to $5.15.
The heavyweight financials group gained, with insurer Manulife Financial Corp adding 31 cents, or 1.2%, to $25.75, while Sun Life progressed 25 cents to $47.88.
Telecoms made some headway as BCE gathered 15 cents to $58.56
The materials group gained, even as several gold miners weighed.
Copper prices were at a two-year peak, boosted by a Chinese government-led infrastructure push that kept construction humming in the world's second-largest economy.
First Quantum Mineral added 33 cents, or 2.5% to $13.79, and Teck Resources rose 71 cents, or 2.7%, to $27.07.
On matters macroeconomic, Statistics Canada reported that its industrial product price index declined 1.0% in June, mainly due to lower prices for energy and petroleum products. The Raw Materials Price Index declined 3.7%, primarily due to lower prices for crude energy products.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 2.19 points Monday to 770.38.
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were downward to finish off, as health-care dimmed 1.1%, information technology slid 0.5%, and energy dulled 0.2%.
The five gainers were led by financials, up 0.6%, while telecoms and materials each surged 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones industrial average finished at a record high on Monday as Wall Street cheered on what's been a strong earnings season.
The Dow hiked 60.81 points to 21,891.12, with Goldman Sachs and Home Depot contributing the most gains.
Boeing also contributed gains, with shares rising half a percent after announcing it expects a record number of aircraft orders from India. The announcement came about a week after posted better-than-expected quarterly results.
The S&P 500 sagged 1.8 points to 2,470.30, as materials and information technology lagged.
The NASDAQ dropped 26.55 points to 6,348.12, as large-cap tech stocks like Facebook and Alphabet pulled back.
This earnings season has largely provided positive surprises for investors. In all, experts say, 73% of the S&P 500 companies that had reported as of Friday had topped estimates on both the top and bottom lines
Up on the earnings docket for this week are Apple, Mondelez, Yum Brands and Tesla, among others.
In other corporate news, Discovery Communications agreed to buy Scripps Networks for $14.6 billion in cash and stock, or $90 per share.
North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last week which landed in the Sea of Japan, raising concerns that more parts of the U.S. could be at risk of an attack. Meanwhile in Washington, the White House saw a major shake-up after John Kelly replaced Reince Priebus as President Trump's chief of staff.
In economic news, pending home sales rose 1.5% in June.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note regained strength, lowering yields to Friday’s 2.29%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 53 cents to $50.24 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices inched up a dollar to $1,276.30 U.S. an ounce.
