ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Skip to main content

S&P/TSX composite edges upward despite energy losses, U.S. markets also up

Share
TORONTO -

Losses in energy on Canada's main stock index were offset by gains in other sectors, with the index posting a minor gain Wednesday, while U.S. markets were also up.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 15.60 points at 20,720.39.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 38.78 points at 34,128.05. The S&P 500 index was up 11.47 points at 4,147.60, while the Nasdaq composite was up 110.45 points at 12,070.59.

It's all about U.S. data this week, said Stonehouse, with both retail sales data Wednesday and Tuesday's inflation numbers showing that inflation and the consumer are remaining resilient in the face of rising interest rates.

“We've seen the market start from a selling off position, and then kind of work its way back into neutral range as the day progressed, both yesterday and today,†he said.

Markets have been revising their expectations for the rate hiking cycle as a result, said Stonehouse.

“What we've seen the last few days is a continuation of the bond market selloff that's basically been in place ever since the employment data came out,†he said.

Equity markets have been more range-bound as of late, with fewer dramatic reactions to economic data, said Stonehouse.

While not long ago markets were pricing in up to two cuts to rates later in the year, now they've shaved that down to one in both Canada and the U.S., an expectation that could recede further, he said.

“In the last two weeks, a lot has been done to take rate cuts off the table and move the peak expectation more in line with the Fed.â€

While a couple more hikes in the U.S. were already expected, now the possibility of one more hike in Canada this summer is also looking more likely, said Stonehouse.

The Canadian dollar traded for 74.57 cents US compared with 74.93 cents US on Tuesday.

After weakness in the fourth quarter of 2022, the U.S. dollar has recently been rallying, said Stonehouse, which could weigh on things like commodities if it continues. However, the Canadian dollar has so far held in relatively well, he said.

The March crude contract was down 47 cents at US$78.59 per barreland the March natural gas contract was down 10 cents at US$2.47 per mmBTU.

The April gold contract was down US$20.10 at US$1,845.30 an ounce and the March copper contract was down six cents at US$4.01 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2023

CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.

B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating the death of a woman who was shot by the RCMP after allegedly barricading herself in a room with a toddler early Thursday morning.

Local Spotlight

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.

David Krumholtz, known for roles like Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause and physicist Isidor Rabi in Oppenheimer, has spent the latter part of his summer filming horror flick Altar in Winnipeg. He says Winnipeg is the most movie-savvy town he's ever been in.

Edmontonians can count themselves lucky to ever see one tiger salamander, let alone the thousands one local woman says recently descended on her childhood home.

A daytrip to the backcountry turned into a frightening experience for a Vancouver couple this weekend.

Stay Connected