Equities in Toronto wavered before the final bell, but finished slightly above Monday’s close, on strength of energy stocks.
The TSX Composite eked up 3.76 points to close Tuesday at 20,023.46.
The Canadian dollar regained 0.42 cents at 73.77 cents U.S.
Among energy issues, Spartan Delta pointed upward 92 cents, or 6.4%, to $15.23, while Cenovus Energy tacked on 72 cents, or 3%, to $25.01.
Gold improved its sheen, with Torex Gold ahead $1.30, or 8.9%, to $16.34, while OceanaGold acquired 28 cents, or 11.6%, to $2.70.
Other metals were stronger, too, with Ero Copper progressing $1.18, or 6.5%, to $19.31, while Lundin Mining grew 38 cents, or 4.6%, to $8.59.
Financials, though, took some bruises, with TD stumbling $2.63, or 2.9%, to $88.52, while CIBC shed $1.23, or 2.1%, to $56.37.
In consumer discretionary stocks, Uni-Select falling 95 cents, or 2.2%, to $43.06, while Linamar stepped back $1.14, or 1.7%, to $64.96.
Among cannabis issues, Canopy Growth retreated seven cents, or 1.7%, to $3.95, while Cronos Group lost six cents, or 1.5%, to $3.87.
Canadian stocks have recovered sharply from their October lows on hopes the U.S. Fed and other major central banks may temper their aggressive rate-hike stances on signs inflation may have peaked.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada is trying to raise rates enough to tame inflation without forcing the economy into a deep recession, Governor Tiff Macklem said on Monday, but the greater risk of the two is sticky inflation, which would require “much higher” rates.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange clung to gains of 0.38 points to 574.27.
Seven of the 12 subgroups gained ground, with energy surging 1.8%, gold up 1.5%, and materials stronger by 1.2%.
The five laggards were financials, shedding 1.5%, consumer discretionary, sliding 0.4%, and health-care, worse off 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks rose Tuesday after the release of new U.S. inflation data, while traders awaited a key Federal Reserve policy decision.
The Dow Jones Industrials jumped 103.6 points to 34,108.64.
The S&P 500 gathered 29.09 points to 4,019.65
The NASDAQ Composite Index leaped 113.08 points, or 1%, to 11,256.81.
Energy stocks led the gains, with shares of Chevron the leading outperformer in the Dow.
Tech stocks that have been hit the hardest from rising inflation and rates in 2022, also rose. Shares of Meta galloped more than 4% and Google-parent Alphabet was up more than 2%.
The consumer price index rose just 0.1% from the previous month, and increased 7.1% from a year ago, the U.S. Labor Department reported Tuesday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting a 0.3% monthly increase and a 7.3% 12-month increase.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core CPI rose 0.2% on the month and 6% on an annual basis, compared to respective estimates of 0.3% and 6.1%.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury were up sharply, lowering yields to 3.51% from Monday’s 3.62%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices picked up $2.24 to $75.41 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices surged $30.00 to $1,822.30 U.S. an ounce.