Canadian equities closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P/TSX Composite advancing 0.51% to close at a new all-time high. Strength in the Financials, Materials and Information Technology sectors underpinned the market rally in Toronto.
Among individual names, Air Canada (TSX:AC) led gains, jumping 12.25% or 3.34 points to finish at 30.61. Celestica Inc. (TSX:CLS) followed, adding 9.20% or 39.79 points to end the session at 472.51. Exchange Income Corporation (TSX:EIF) rose 5.66% or 7.25 points to close at 135.43.
On the downside, 5N Plus Inc. (TSX:VNP) fell 4.97% or 1.58 points to 30.20 at the close. H&R Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:HR_u) slipped 4.65% or 0.50 points to 10.25, while Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU) declined 4.51% or 145.20 points to finish at 3,075.41.
Market breadth in Toronto was tilted toward advancers, with 522 stocks rising versus 443 that fell, and 87 issues ending unchanged.
Two notable benchmark milestones were recorded: Air Canada’s shares reached five-year highs as they climbed 12.25% to 30.61, and Exchange Income Corporation rallied to an all-time high, closing at 135.43 after a 5.66% increase.
Measures of market uncertainty eased during the session. The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, which tracks implied volatility for S&P/TSX Composite options, dropped 2.83% to 14.06.
Commodity markets showed mixed moves. December Gold futures rose 0.59% or 26.24 to $4,467.34 a troy ounce. In energy markets, September crude oil fell 0.41% or 0.34 to $82.86 a barrel, and the October Brent contract retreated 0.34% or 0.30 to $88.61 a barrel.
Currency and index movements recorded modest shifts. CAD/USD was unchanged, noted at 0.72 with a 0.14% change, while CAD/EUR was effectively unchanged at 0.62 with a 0.04% variation. The US Dollar Index Futures moved up 0.18% to 99.89.
Data points and short-hand indicators cited in the trading summary included intraday codes and percentage moves across several instruments, reflecting the day’s cross-market action: DX+0.15% GC+0.62% LCO-0.6% CL-0.7% GSPTSE+0.51% CLS+9.2% HR_u-4.65% AC+12.25% VNP-4.97% CSU-4.51% EIF+5.66% VIXI-2.83%.
This session’s result left the Toronto market slightly extended to the upside, driven by a handful of strong performers in travel, technology services and diversified holdings, while select metals and real estate names trimmed returns.