Canada's main stock index achieved a small overall gain on Thursday, as earnings hits and misses pulled investors in opposite directions.
The S&P/TSX Composite eked up 6.18 points to close Thursday at 14,552.72
The Canadian dollar gained 0.16 cents to 76 cents U.S.
Metals and mining stocks provided much of the index’s strength, as Teck Resources soared $1.25, or 6.6%, to $20.19.
Energy stocks also found their footing, most notably Encana, up 13 cents, or 1.3%, to $10.22, while Seven Generations Energy picked up six cents to $27.00
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported that average weekly were $956 in May, up 0.2% from the previous month. Compared with 12 months earlier, average weekly earnings increased 0.9%.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange was still positive 3.24 points to 784.95
Eight of the 13 subgroups were positive on the day, with metals and mining ahead 4.7%, energy stronger 1.1%, and utilities climbing 0.8%.
The five laggards were weighed most by consumer discretionary stocks, down 1.1%, information technology, sliding 0.8%, and gold, off 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed mostly higher Thursday, amid declines in oil prices, as major tech stocks gained.
The Dow Jones Industrials recovered from deeply negative readings, climbing to within 15.82 points of breakeven to close at 18,456.35.
Boeing weighing most heavily on the index, as well as Caterpillar, Chevron and Exxon Mobil also traded lower.
The S&P 500 gained 3.48 points to 2,170.06, with telecommunications and materials weighing. Utilities and consumer staples were the only gainers.
The NASDAQ Composite gained 15.17 points to 5,143.05. Apple was more than 1% higher in afternoon trade Thursday.
Ford Motor posted quarterly earnings that missed expectations and said its full-year earnings forecast was at risk with U.S. auto sales expected to fall in the second half. Shares fell more than 9.5% in mid-morning trade and were tracking for their worst day since January 2011.
Facebook reported quarterly earnings that soundly beat on both the top and bottom line, helped by better-than-expected ad revenue.
Shares briefly jumped 4% to hit an all-time intraday high and were last about 0.5% higher.
Amazon.com and Alphabet are among those scheduled to report after the close.
In economic news, weekly jobless claims rose to 266,000. The U.S. advance June goods trade deficit was $63.3 billion, up from $61.1 billion in May.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury regained ground, lowering yields to 1.5% from Wednesday’s 1.51%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices dipped 84 cents a barrel to $41.08 U.S.
Gold prices hiked $7.90 to $1,334.60 U.S. an ounce.
