Canada's main stock index gave back its gains by noon hour ET on Friday, after being initially lifted by fresh hopes that the United States and China will take steps to resolve their trade dispute.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index faded 63.45 points to greet noon at 15,086.70
The Canadian dollar slid 0.12 cents to 76.26 cents U.S.
Imperial Oil took on 91 cents, or 2.1%, to $42.41, after reporting quarterly profit that more than doubled as production volumes rose and the company earned more from refining crude.
The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Interfor Corp, which jumped $2.08, or 13.4%, to $17.64, followed by Manulife Financial, which rose $1.10, or 5.3%, to $21.90.
Sleep Country Canada dozed off $3.44, or 12.5%, the most on the TSX, to $24.03, after its third-quarter revenue and profit fall below expectations.
The second biggest decliner was Alamos Gold, down 31 cents, or 5.6%, to $5.22, after the company's quarterly results miss analysts' estimates.
On the economic ledger, Statistics Canada says employment was little changed in October, the economy creating but 11,000 jobs. The unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 5.8% as fewer people searched for work.
The agency also reported that this Canada's merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed to $416 million in September from $551 million in August. Imports fell 0.4%, while exports edged down 0.2%.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange nosed ahead 1.88 points to 646.83
All but three of the 12 subgroups had drifted into negative territory by midday, with consumer staples fading 4.1%, while energy and real-estate each suffered 1.3%
The three gainers were health-care, up 0.5%, financials, richer 0.2%, and materials, stronger by 0.1%
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks fell on Friday, giving back their initial gains, as sharp losses in Apple overshadowed better-than-expected employment data and renewed optimism on trade.
The Dow Jones Industrials slipped 133.1 points to 25,247.64
The S&P 500 subtracted 21.3 points to 2,719.07, as Apple's 7% decline dragged down other major tech names like Facebook and Alphabet.
The NASDAQ staggered 79.36 points to 7,354.70
Apple fell after the company's iPhone shipments for last quarter missed estimates. The company also offered light guidance and announced major changes to its reporting structure. These were enough to overshadow stronger-than-expected earnings and revenue.
Stocks surged at the open after the U.S. Labor Department said the stateside economy added 250,000 jobs last month. Economists expected an addition of 190,000. Wages, meanwhile, rose 3.1% on an annualized basis in October for the first time since the recession.
Sentiment was initially lifted after a Bloomberg News report said President Donald Trump asked officials to start drafting a potential trade deal with China.
But a White House official told the media later that Bloomberg's report was not true, noting: "There is a long way to go" on these negotiations.
Prices for the benchmark for the 10-year U.S. Treasury fell sharply, raising yields to 3.20% from Thursday’s 3.14%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices lost 35 cents to $63.34 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices faltered $5.10 an ounce to $1,233.50
