Equities in Toronto made sure they didn’t miss out on the upward progress shown by their American neighbours, with health-care and gold powering much of this progress.
The TSX Composite spiked 149.35 points to wind up Thursday at 20,778.80.
The Canadian dollar spiked 0.56 cents at 74.59 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks proved the champion, with Tilray popping 17 cents, or 6.6%, to $2.76, while Chartwell Retirement Residences obtaining eight cents to $11.25.
OceanaGold headed higher 23 cents, or 10.1%, to $2.51, while Iamgold taking on a dime, or 3.1%. to $3.29.
In the oil patch, Vermilion Energy sprouted wings and flew 74 cents, or 4.7%, to $16.40, while Tamarack Valley Energy collecting 16 cents, or 5.5%, to $3.08.
Consumer staples were still feeling around for the bruises by the close, with Empire Company tumbling $4.30, or 11%, to $34.64, while Loblaw woozed $6.08, or 4.8%, to $120.00.
In communications, BCE slid $1.68, or 3.1%, to $53.64, while Rogers handed back $1.04, or 1.7%, to $61.40.
On the economic slate, in October, manufacturing sales decreased 2.8% in October, mainly on lower sales of petroleum and coal product, machinery, and computer and electronic product subsectors.
Also in October, motor vehicle sales in this country registered at 151,100, down from 163,280 in the prior-year month.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange surged 7.29 points, or 1.4%, to 534.26.
All but two of the 12 subgroups were higher at the end Thursday, with health-care haler by 1.7%, gold and energy each climbing 1.4%.
The two laggards proved to be consumer staples, belted 3.6%, and communications, tumbling 1.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher on Thursday, a day after it marked an above 37,000 close for the first time ever, as the 10-year Treasury tumbled below 4% and a surprise gain in retail sales gave investors further confidence 2024 would bring a soft economic landing.
The blue-chip index sprang 158.11 points to close Thursday at 37,248.35.
The S&P 500 acquired 12.46 points to 4,719.55.
The NASDAQ gathered 27.59 points to 14,761.56, on pace for a record close Thursday.
Solar stocks ticked higher as yields fell, with SunRun going skyward 21% and Enphase gaining 13%. Shares of Moderna climbed 9% after trial data showed its experimental cancer vaccine reduced the risk of death or reoccurrence when used alongside Merck’s Keytruda.
Wall Street received fresh economic data on Thursday that helped fuel hopes for a soft landing. Retail sales increased 0.3% in November, the Commerce Department said on Thursday, in the latest sign that consumer spending remains strong as the holiday shopping season continues. Economists polled by Dow Jones forecast a decrease of 0.1%.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury leaped, lowering yields to 3.91% from Wednesday’s 4.02%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices jumped $2.22 to $71.69 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices leaped $54.10 to $2,051.40.