Canada's main stock index squandered substantial early gains Monday from five-week lows, as initial euphoria over a thaw in trade tensions subsided.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index ducked into negative territory 4.65 points to greet noon at 15,219.09
The Canadian dollar gained 0.27 cents at 77.60 cents U.S.
Royal Bank of Canada and TD Bank Group's rose about 1% each,
The energy sector also advanced as a rebound in stock markets and escalating Saudi-Iran tensions capped losses in crude oil futures.
The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was Birchcliff Energy, which rose 4.3% to $3.86, while the largest decliner was Aphria Inc, down 4% to $12.64.
Among the most active Canadian stocks by volume were Nighthawk Gold, which gained 4.8% to 65 cents, and Neulion Inc., ballooning 56 cents, or 112%, to $1.06.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 1.48 points to 816.32
The 12 TSX subgroups were evenly split by noon between gainers and losers, as gold surged 1.2%, while materials gained 0.5%, and industrials solidified 0.4%.
The half-dozen laggards were utilities, down 0.9%, health-care, fading 0.7%, and telecoms, off 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks traded sharply higher on Monday, bouncing back from strong losses in the previous session as trade tensions between the U.S. and China appeared to ease.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average spiked 329.23 points, or 1.4%, down from its morning highs, to greet noon hour at 23,862.43, with Microsoft as the best-performing stock in the index.
The S&P 500 hiked 28.87 points, or 1.1%, to 2,617.13, with technology and financials leading all sectors higher.
The NASDAQ composite Index leaped 83.14 points, or 1.2%, to 7,075.80, with Apple and Amazon both rising.
Social media firms continue to be under the radar, as abuse of people's data remains a key topic of discussion. Last week, reports emerged alleging that Cambridge Analytica, an analytics company, had gathered data from 50 million Facebook profiles without the permission of its users.
While Facebook have since come out to apologize and try to rectify the matter, concerns remain. Facebook shares dropped 1.6% and briefly dipped into bear market territory.
The Financial Times reported China has offered to buy more semiconductors from the U.S. to help cut its trade surplus with the U.S. The Wall Street Journal also reported that U.S. and Chinese officials are working to improve U.S. access to China's markets.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dropped off slightly, raising yields to 2.83% from Friday’s 2.82%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices docked 30 cents a barrel to $65.58 U.S.
Gold prices strengthened $5.50 to $1,355.40 U.S. an ounce.
