Canada's main stock index finished slightly higher on Tuesday, with the S&P/TSX Composite adding 0.10% at the close in Toronto. The session's advance was driven by sector gains in Healthcare, Clean Technology and Information Technology, which collectively supported the broader market.
Among individual names, MDA Ltd (TSX:MDA) was the session's strongest performer, rising 8.50% - an increase of 4.59 points - to close at 58.60. Trekor Metals Ltd (TSX:TKO) followed, advancing 8.19% or 0.74 points to finish at 9.78. Celestica Inc. (TSX:CLS) also posted a sizable gain, up 6.15% or 29.99 points to 517.24 in late trade.
Not all large-cap movers were positive. Silvercorp Metals Inc (TSX:SVM) led declines, falling 7.24% or 1.12 points to 14.36 at the close. Methanex Corporation (TSX:MX) slipped 5.47% or 3.79 points to end at 65.51, while Rogers Communications Inc (TSX:RCIb) lost 4.63% or 2.24 points to close at 46.14.
Market breadth on the Toronto Stock Exchange was narrowly positive, with 503 stocks finishing higher against 473 that declined; 80 issues ended unchanged.
Measures of option-implied volatility for the Canadian large-cap index eased on the session. The S&P/TSX 60 VIX was down 1.26% at 14.86, signaling a modest reduction in implied near-term volatility for index options.
Commodity markets showed mixed moves during the session. Gold futures for August delivery were down 0.27% - a drop of 10.83 - to $4,028.07 a troy ounce. Crude oil for August delivery fell 0.96% or 0.68 to $70.07 a barrel, while the September Brent contract declined 0.68% or 0.50 to trade at $73.41 a barrel.
On the currency front, the Canadian dollar was largely unchanged against major peers. The CAD/USD rate was effectively flat at 0.70 (unchanged 0.16%), while CAD/EUR was also little changed at 0.62 (unchanged 0.14%).
Across U.S. markets, the US Dollar Index futures registered a small uptick, trading up 0.04% at 100.92 by the time of the data snapshot.
Data snapshot - key values cited
- S&P/TSX Composite: +0.10%
- MDA Ltd (TSX:MDA): +8.50% to 58.60
- Trekor Metals Ltd (TSX:TKO): +8.19% to 9.78
- Celestica Inc. (TSX:CLS): +6.15% to 517.24
- Silvercorp Metals Inc (TSX:SVM): -7.24% to 14.36
- Methanex Corporation (TSX:MX): -5.47% to 65.51
- Rogers Communications Inc (TSX:RCIb): -4.63% to 46.14
- Rising/Declining issues: 503 / 473; Unchanged: 80
- S&P/TSX 60 VIX: 14.86 (-1.26%)
- Gold Futures (Aug): $4,028.07 (-0.27%)
- Crude Oil (Aug): $70.07 (-0.96%); Brent (Sep): $73.41 (-0.68%)
- CAD/USD: 0.70 (unchanged 0.16%); CAD/EUR: 0.62 (unchanged 0.14%)
- US Dollar Index Futures: 100.92 (+0.04%)