Stocks in Canada’s largest market fought to within sight of breakeven Monday – a day of light trading, given the American holiday – as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump ratcheted up the pressure on carmakers to build locally.
The S&P/TSX Composite dropped 17.99 points before the final bell to 15,446.07
The Canadian dollar slid 0.32 cents at 75.85 cents U.S.
Among consumer discretionary issues, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers faded 27 cents to $42.98
Financial stocks also moved south, as Manulife ducked 24 cents, or 1%, to $24.29, while Power Financial eased 39 cents, or 1.1%, to $33.73.
In the energy sector, Baytex Energy stumbled seven cents, or 1.2%, to $5.77, while NexGen Energy faded seven cents, or 2.1%, to $3.26.
Gold led the way out of the darkness, with Barrick Gold climbing 33 cents, or 1.5%, to $22.50, while Agnico Eagle Mines took on 71 cents, or 1.2%, to $61.17.
Utilities scored moderately well, as Fortis gained 18 cents to $41.36, while Hydro One acquired 13 cents a share to $23.93.
Among health-care issues, Canopy Growth Corp. progressed 18 cents, or 1.9%, to $9.88, while Merus Labs International gathered two cents, or 1.8%, to $1.16.
On the economic beat, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported that MLS sales rose 2.2% month-over-month in December. CREA reports the rebound recovered less than half of the drop in activity from October to November, when it posted the biggest monthly retreat in more than four years after tightened mortgage regulations came into effect.
Oil prices recovered 27 cents to $52.64 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices moved up $6.40 to $1,202.60 U.S. an ounce.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange recovered 1.03 points to 795.54
Seven of the 12 subgroups were lower on Monday, as consumer discretionary stocks doffed 0.5%, while financials and energy were each down 0.4%
The five gainers were led by gold, up 0.6%, utilities, improving 0.4%, and health-care, soaring 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
American markets were closed Monday for Martin Luther King Day.
