Canadian equities ended Thursday's session with broad gains, as the S&P/TSX Composite closed up 1.52% in Toronto. The advance was fueled by strength in Materials, Consumer Discretionary and Clean Technology sectors, which collectively pushed the benchmark higher by the final bell.
Top movers
The day's strongest performers on the S&P/TSX Composite included AbraSilver Resource Corp (TSX:ABRA), which jumped 10.69% or 1.41 points to finish at 14.60. Energy Fuels Inc. (TSX:EFR) climbed 10.48% or 2.00 points to close at 21.08, while Silvercorp Metals Inc (TSX:SVM) rose 9.86% or 1.32 points to end at 14.71.
On the downside, North West Company Inc (TSX:NWC) slipped 4.07% or 2.03 points to trade at 47.80 at the close. Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU) declined 2.72% or 85.61 points to finish at 3,058.09, and Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (TSX:BIR) fell 2.36% or 0.16 points to 6.63.
Market breadth and volatility
Rising issues outnumbered decliners on the Toronto Stock Exchange by 641 to 311, with 68 names unchanged. Measures of expected near-term option volatility moved higher; the S&P/TSX 60 VIX rose 3.06% to 15.48.
Commodities and energy
Commodity markets showed mixed action. Gold Futures for August delivery were up 2.47% or 102.00 to $4,235.30 a troy ounce. By contrast, crude oil prices weakened: the July contract fell 4.58% or 4.12 to settle at $85.91 a barrel, and the August Brent contract dropped 4.78% or 4.45 to trade at $88.65 a barrel.
Currencies and dollar index
Foreign exchange moves were modest. CAD/USD was indicated at 0.72, reflecting a 0.13% move, while CAD/EUR was at 0.62, a 0.55% move. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.27% at 99.67.
What this means
The session closed with a notable skew toward advancing issues and concentrated gains among select resource and energy-related names, while some larger-cap consumer and software stocks recorded declines. Volatility measures ticked up, even as the dollar index eased and commodities diverged, with gold rising and crude benchmarks retreating.
Data and prices reported reflect the close in Toronto and futures pricing referenced in the session. Numbers include percentage moves and point changes as recorded at the close.