Equity markets in Toronto gained on Monday, with a jump in the price of crude oil helping to lift the shares of some of the country's biggest energy producers.
The S&P/TSX composite index acquired 59.13 points to greet noon at 13,427.37.
The Canadian dollar marched 0.27 cents higher to 75.03 cents U.S.
Gold stocks led the way, as Barrick Gold leaped 31 cents, or 3.2%, to $9.78, while Agnico Eagle Mines took on 45 cents, or 1.3%, to $35.28.
Energy stocks also shared in the upward climb, led by Suncor Energy, up 36 cents, 1%, to $36.64, and Canadian Natural Resources, which advanced 66 cents, or 2.1% to $32.43.
The overall energy group prospered, although Bankers Petroleum Ltd fell 17 cents, or 9.9%, to $1.51 after it said it may have to curtail production in Albania due to a dispute with authorities.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International added $4.04, or 3.5%, to $119.26.
BlackBerry shares rebounded 26 cents, or 2.5%, to $10.67. The company delayed a possible shutdown in Pakistan as talks with authorities continued over access to customer data.
A Reuters poll suggests that, after shocking markets with an interest rate cut at the start of the year, the Bank of Canada is expected to end 2015 by holding rates steady through next year and waiting for better U.S. growth to provide a boost.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange moved 1.95 points to pause for Monday’s lunch at 523.96.
All but three of the 13 TSX subgroups were higher, with gold soaring 1.9%, materials better by 1.6%, and energy 1.4% to the good.
The three laggards were consumer staples, down 0.8%, utilities, off 0.5%, and consumer discretionaries, sliding 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range Monday, the last day of trade for November, as investors readied for key data and central bank comments later in the week.
The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 65.97 points to 17,732.52, with Caterpillar contributing the most to gains. Home Depot and Nike were the greatest weights on the index.
The S&P 500 was down 5.19 points to 2,087.11. Consumer stocks were among the laggards in the S&P 500, with health care trading more than 1% lower as the greatest decliner. Energy briefly gained more than 1% to lead advancers on the broader exchange.
The NASDAQ index moved lower 14.6 points to 5,112.92.
Shares of Target briefly fell more than 1.5% amid reports high traffic caused the retailer's website temporarily crash temporarily.
Ahead of Friday's release of the November employment report, the Chicago PMI for November came in at 48.7, down from October's 56.2 print.
The pending home sales figure for October from the National Association of Realtors rose by just 0.2%, ending two straight months of declines but far below expectations for a 1% rebound
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries gained ground, lowering yields to 2.22% from Friday’s 2.23%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices stayed positive 66 cents a barrel to $42.37 U.S.
Gold prices spiked $6.30 to $1,063.75 U.S. an ounce.
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