Stocks in Canada’s largest market maintained their upward progress Thursday noon, helped by a gain in heavyweight drug firm Valeant and rising material stocks, while energy names slipped in line with a fall in crude oil prices.
The S&P/TSX composite index moved forward 41.26 points by midday to 13,444.68
The Canadian dollar slid 0.07 cents to 75.18 cents U.S.
Health-care stocks like Valeant proved the star, the drug maker rising $3.00, or 2.6%, to $118.35.
First Quantum Minerals surged 25 cents, or 5.2%, to $5.06, and fertilizer company Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan was up 10 cents, or 0.4% to $26.48.
Copper prices advanced 2.1% to $4,645 U.S. a tonne.
On the negative side, energy stocks went south, as Enbridge fell 1.1% to $47.58, and Cenovus Energy Inc declined 1% to $19.69.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.12 points to 520.31.
All but three of the 13 TSX subgroups were higher, with metals and mining chugging ahead 3.6%, health-care better by 2.1%, and materials improving 1.1%.
The three laggards were utilities, down 0.3%, real-estate off 0.2%, and energy sliding 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. markets are closed for Thanksgiving and the stock market closes at 1 p.m. EST on Friday.
