Canada's main stock benchmark ended Tuesday's session in positive territory, supported by strength in Clean Technology, Materials and Financials names. At the close in Toronto the S&P/TSX Composite was up 0.19%.
The session's strongest performers included Trekor Metals Ltd (TSX:TKO), which jumped 12.25% or 1.22 points to finish at 11.18. First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSX:FM) added 8.26% or 2.97 points to close at 38.94, while Altius Minerals Corporation (TSX:ALS) rose 6.76% or 4.18 points to reach 66.04 in late trade.
On the downside, Open Text Corp (TSX:OTEX) recorded the largest drop, falling 5.28% or 1.76 points to end at 31.59. Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:WDO) declined 4.69% or 1.22 points to 24.82, and Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU) slid 4.54% or 129.66 points to finish at 2,725.87.
Market breadth on the Toronto Stock Exchange was positive, with 500 names rising versus 434 declining, and 95 issues unchanged at the close.
Notable milestone: Shares of Altius Minerals Corporation (TSX:ALS) moved to all-time highs during the session, finishing up 6.76% or 4.18 points at 66.04.
Volatility and commodities
The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, which measures implied volatility on S&P/TSX Composite options, increased 3.18% to 14.26.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for August delivery were up 1.34% or 53.75 to $4,059.45 a troy ounce. Crude oil for August delivery rose 2.38% or 1.86 to $80.00 a barrel, while the September Brent contract climbed 2.71% or 2.26 to trade at $85.56 a barrel.
Currency and U.S. dollar
CAD/USD was unchanged 0.65% to 0.71, while CAD/EUR was unchanged 0.31% to 0.62. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.30% at 100.74.
This session's results show a narrow advance for the S&P/TSX Composite, with select materials and clean-technology related equities contributing to gains while a handful of large-cap technology and mining names weighed on the downside. Option-implied volatility moved higher alongside mixed commodity price action, with both gold and crude registering gains.
Investors evaluating performance across sectors should note the positive market breadth and the specific moves among the day's top gainers and laggards, as these individual stock swings contributed materially to the index outcome.