Equities in Toronto fell just short of breakeven Tuesday, despite strength in gold and material stocks, financials dragging toward the finish.
The TSX declined 29.98 points to close Tuesday to 20,552.14.
The Canadian dollar slid 0.02 cents to 75.91 cents U.S.
Resource stocks led the field Tuesday, with Hudbay Minerals surging 59 cents, or 8.5%, to $7.54, while Capstone Mining gathering 34 cents, or 5.5%, to $6.57. Equinox Gold grabbed 20 cents, or 3%, to $6.81, while B2Gold up 14 cents, or 3%, to $4.84.
Precision Drilling moved forward $1.90, or 2.5%, to $78.30, while Crescent Point Energy seized 15 cents, or 1.5%, to $10.44.
Financials did not fare so well, with iA Financial sagging $2.64, or 2.8%, to $90.48, while Trisura Group faded $1.25, or 3.4%, to $35.15.
In consumer staples, Maple Leaf Foods dropped 28 cents, or 1%, to $27.41, while Metro lost 58 cents to $73.49.
Communications were also in the red, with BCE off 69 cents to $57.70, while Telus Corp. fell 22 cents to $24.44.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 4.33 points to finish at 616.32.
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were lower on the session, with materials up 1.8%, while gold increased 1.4%, and energy increased 0.6%.
The four laggards were weighed most by financials, down 0.9%, consumer staples declining 0.5%, and communications and lost 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher Tuesday as it notched its longest winning streak in more than six years, while traders weighed the latest earnings reports.
The 30-stock index improved 26.83 points to close the session Tuesday at 35,438.07, for the index’s 12th straight hike.
The S&P 500 added 12.82 points to 4,567.46.
The NASDAQ index hiked 85.69 points to 14,144.56.
General Motors shares fell about 3.5% even after the automaker hiked its full-year earnings guidance. Meanwhile, General Electric climbed nearly 6.3% on the back of stronger-than-expected revenue for the second quarter.
Elsewhere, UPS fell 1.9% after it reached a tentative deal with the Teamsters union, avoiding a strike.
Wall Street is digesting results from the busiest stretch of earnings so far, with major tech names Alphabet and Microsoft set to report after the close. Nearly 130 S&P 500 companies have reported second-quarter earnings thus far. Of those names, about 79% have exceeded analyst expectations, FactSet data shows.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury fell Tuesday afternoon, lowering yields to Monday’s 3.88%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices took on 85 cents to $79.59 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices recovered $3.70 to $1,965.90 U.S. an ounce.