Canada’s main stock index touched a record high on Thursday, helped by energy stocks, while investors digested a mixed batch of U.S. economic data and awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments due later in the day.
The TSX climbed 77.17 points to 25,066.19, a new intraday high.
The Canadian dollar lost 0.17 cents to 71.29 cents U.S.
In corporate news, distributor of architectural building products Adentra surpassed third-quarter sales estimates and increased its quarterly dividend to $0.15 per share from $0.14. Adentra gained 91 cents in the first hour, or 2.4%, to $39.71.
The heavyweight sector also benefited from a jump of $4.12, or 15.1%, in Paramount Resources’ shares, to $31.40 after shale producer Ovintiv announced a $2.38-billion all-cash deal to acquire the energy firm’s oil assets. Ovintiv grabbed $2.13, or 3.6%, to $61.25.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange slipped 0.06 points to 593.66.
Seven of the 12 subgroups were gainers. Energy gained 2.2%, consumer staples took on 0.9%, and materials recovered 0.8%.
The five gainers were weighed most by information technology, down 1.5%, health-care, fading 0.9%, and real-estate, off 0.7%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 137.64 points to 43,820.55.
The S&P 500 dived 20.73 points to 5,964.65.
The NASDAQ Composite slid 60.31 points to 19,170.42.
Disney shares popped 9% after the media giant reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results, boosting the Dow. The company got a boost from strong streaming growth driving its entertainment business.
Capri, and Tapestry rose after the companies called off their planned merger, citing regulatory hurdles. Shares of Tapestry jumped nearly 13%, while Capri added 2.5%.
Hims & Hers Health dropped 14% after Amazon revealed Prime users can now access fixed pricing of treatment for conditions such as men’s hair loss. The offering puts the company in direct competition with Hims & Hers Health.
Those moves come after the October producer price index released Thursday rose 0.2%, matching forecasts from economists polled by Dow Jones.
PPI excluding food and energy ran faster than forecast. The October consumer price index came in as expected on Wednesday, but nevertheless signaled the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation is yet to be won. Core CPI rose by 0.3% for a third straight month, with the 12-month rate at 3.3%.
Investors are deliberating whether a postelection rally following Donald Trump’s decisive victory last week still has room to run after powering the major averages to new milestones. The Dow closed above 44,000 for the first time on Monday, and both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite notched new highs.
Investors will also closely monitor scheduled remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday in Dallas, while the October retail sales report is due out Friday.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained a slight bit of ground, pushing yields down to 4.40% from Wednesday’s 4.45%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices nicked up six cents to $68.49 U.S. a barrel.
Prices for gold dipped nine dollars an ounce to $2,577.50 U.S.