Equities in Canada’s main stock market fell on Monday, weighed down by energy stocks as crude prices fell after Ukraine hinted at possible concessions to Russia that could ease tensions between the two countries.
The S&P/TSX Composite began the day and the week down 132.4 points to 21,416.44.
The Canadian dollar ditched 0.07 cents at 78.51 cents U.S.
National Bank of Canada ups the price target on Constellation Software to $2,350 from $2,100. Constellation shares took on $20.82, or 1%, to $2,150.38.
JP Morgan raised the rating on TELUS to overweight from neutral. TELUS shares nicked higher six cents to $31.63.
TD Securities raised the target price on Toromont Industries to $125.00 from $120.00. Shares in Toromont dived $1.81. or 1.6%, to $112.61.
Healthcare stocks tumbled, with major pot producers including Canopy Growth, off 28 cents, or 2.4%, to $11.43, Cronos Group, down five cents, or 1%, to $5.07. Aurora Cannabis, however, gained a dime, or 1.7%, to $5.84.
National Defence says Canada has temporarily withdrawn its Ukraine-based military personnel to an undisclosed destination in Europe, as Western countries fear Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine.
A pandemic-driven exodus of young families out of Canada’s largest cities has depleted a core age group of workers from the already tight labour market, which experts say risks accelerating wage inflation in certain industries.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange slipped 0.44 points to 868.33.
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were in plus territory in the first hour, with gold brightening 1.8%, health-care ahead 0.8%, and materials better by 0.4%.
Consumer staples weighed down the five laggards, swooning 1.1%, financials, poorer by 0.9%, and utilities, off 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks moved lower on Monday as investors evaluated the Federal Reserve’s plan for interest rate hikes as tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain unresolved.
The Dow Jones Industrials tumbled 356.91 points, or 1%, to 34,381.55, dragged down by losses in Cisco and Chevron.
The S&P 500 slipped 26.64 points to 4,392
The NASDAQ fell 7.17 points to 13,783.98
Earnings are expected to ramp up again this week, with Nvidia, Walmart, Shopify, AMC and more scheduled to report.
Sentiment was helped following comments from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Vladimir Putin in Moscow that suggested Russia would continue diplomatic talks with the West over Ukraine, lowering tensions a bit following a market selloff Friday.
Fed officials opined that the central bank needed to fight inflation more aggressively, echoing comments he made last week that pressured the stock market.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that inflation in January surged 7.5%, its biggest 12-month gain since 1982.
Prices for 10-year Treasurys flopped, raising yields sharply to 2%, from Friday’s 1.92%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices were lower two cents to $93.08 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices $25.00 to $1,867.10 U.S. an ounce.