Equities in Canada’s biggest centre remained in the red by noon EST on Thursday, tracking a dip in the Wall Street after data showed a surge in U.S. consumer prices, although gains in commodity-linked shares cushioned the declines to some extent.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 54.46 points mid-day Thursday at 21,438.77.
The Canadian dollar took on 0.15 cents to 78.27 cents U.S.
Tech shares took their bruises, especially BlackBerry, lopping off 21 cents, or 2.4%, to $8.43.
Among health-care concerns, Canopy Growth fell 60 cents, or 7%, to $7.96.
Energy stocks were more, well, energetic, as Canadian Natural Resources, marching $2.67, or 3.6%, to $76.88, while Barrick Gold represented its section, gaining three cents to $31.20.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 4.01 points to 847.31.
Of the 12 subgroups, seven were negative, with information technology sinking 3.3%, health-care stumbling 2.8%, and real-estate off 0.5%.
The five gainers were led by energy, progressing 1.7%, materials, stronger by 0.7%, and gold, ahead 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks fell Thursday after failed peace talks between Ukraine and Russia spooked investors about how the geopolitical conflict could impact global growth.
The Dow Jones Industrial jettisoned 354.18 points, or 1.1%, to 32,932.07.
The S&P 500 dropped 52.02 points, or 1.2%, to 4,225.86.
The NASDAQ Composite faltered 246.57 points, or 1.9%, to 13,008.98, dragged down by losses in Apple and Meta Platforms.
Energy stocks Chevron gathered 2.3%, and Exxon Mobil rose 1.2%,
Amazon shares jumped 5% after the company announced a 20-for-1 stock split and $10 billion buyback. CrowdStrike rallied 14% following an earnings beat and raising its outlook.
Elsewhere in tech was a sea of red. Zoom Video fell more than 7% and Microsoft dipped 2%. Apple and Meta Platforms fell 3% each. Tesla ticked 4% lower.
Goldman Sachs ticked 2% lower after announcing it is shuttering its Russia business, becoming one of the first major global investment banks to do so after the country invaded its neighbor Ukraine last month.
Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers ended with little progress on matters including a cease-fire or a safe passage for civilians trying to flee the besieged city of Mariupol.
Other commodities that have seen significant rallies since the war in Ukraine, that pulled back Wednesday, where higher again on Thursday. Silver, palladium and wheat rose. Investors have been worried about the impact of high prices on economic growth.
The consumer price index, a key inflation gauge, showed a wide-ranging basket of goods and services increased 7.9% in February, a fresh 40-year high. This was a touch higher than the estimate of 7.8% for the year, according to economists surveyed by Dow Jones.
On a month-over-month basis, the CPI gain was 0.8%, compared to the estimate of 0.7% for the month.
Treasury prices faded, raising yields to 2.01% from Wednesday’s 1.95%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices stepped back a penny to $108.69 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices picked up $15.50 to $2,003.70 U.S. an ounce.