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TSX Squeezes out Gains to End Friday
The TSX Composite Index moved doggedly higher 1.28 points, to end Friday and the week at 23,867.55, for a gain on the week of 1,086, or 4.77%.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.02 to 73.71 cents U.S.
In corporate news, Orex Minerals announced the appointment of John Eren as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, effective immediately. Orex stumbled three cents, or 11.9%, to 18.5 cents.
On the composite index, the biggest decliners were Ballard Power Systems, down 12 cents, or 5%, to $2.28, TFI International, down $6.18, or 3%, to $197.16, and Africa Oil, which fell eight cents, or 4.3%, to $1.77.
Gold stocks supplied the upward momentum Friday, with Lundin Gold surging $1.17, or 4%, to $30.14, while Aya Gold jumped 52 cents, or 3.4%, to $15.95.
Among materials, SSR Mining leaped 21 cents, or 2.7%, to $8.13, while Pan American Silver shone brighter 65 cents, or 2.3%, to $29.19.
Real-estate also performed well, as units of Granite REIT took on 81 cents, or 1%, to $82.12, while Canadian Apartments REIT tacked on 59 cents, or 1.2%, to $55.41.
Industrials proved a drag on the market, with Richelieu Hardware dropping $1.18, or 2.9%, to $39.59, while TFI International capsized $5.83, or 2.9%, to $197.51.
In health-care, Bausch Health Companies dipped 19 cents, or 1.7%, to $10.92, while Tilray flopped 11 cents, or 4.5%, to $2.32.
In consumer discretionary stocks, Spin Master gave back 45 cents, or 1.4%, to $30.91, while Canada Goose Holdings forfeited 20 cents, or 1.4%, to $14.29.
Economically speaking, July retail trade increased 0.9% to $66.4 billion in July. Sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
The new housing price index crumbled to 217,400 in August, from 279,800 in July.
Statistics Canada’s industrial product price index decreased 0.8% month over month in August and rose 0.2% on a yearly basis, while its raw materials price declined 3.1% month over month in August and fell 2.5% year over year.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange nicked ahead 2.19 points to 584.91, gaining over the last five sessions 39.7 points, or 7.28%.
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups ended higher, with gold advancing 1.3%, materials better by 0.4%, and real-estate inching up 0.2%.
The five laggards were weighed most by industrials, sifting off 1.2%, while health-care dropped 0.8% and consumer discretionary stocks hesitating 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a gain on Friday, capping a big rally for the week that came after the first major easing of interest rate policy by the Federal Reserve in four years.
The blue-chip index surged late in the session 38.17 points to 42,063.36, yet another record high.
The S&P 500 index skidded 11.05 points from record highs of Thursday, to 5,702.55.
The NASDAQ Composite wilted 65.66 points to 17,948.32.
The three major averages notched weekly gains. The S&P 500 rose 1.36%, posting its fifth positive week over the last six weeks. The index is up more than 19% in 2024. The Dow ended the week higher by 1.62%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ advanced 1.49%.
FedEx dented sentiment a bit on Friday after the shipping behemoth cut its earnings outlook. Shares dropped more than 15% and competitor UPS shed 2.7% in sympathy.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury eased back, lifting yields to 3.74% from Thursday’s 3.73%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices doffed 18 cents at $71.77 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices popped $31.70 to $2,646.30 U.S. an ounce
