Equities in Canada’s largest centre enjoyed triple-digit by Monday’s closing bell, as signs of progress in developing a COVID-19 vaccine renewed hopes for a post-pandemic economic rebound.
The TSX muscled up 137.68 points to close Monday at 16,360.14.
The Canadian dollar inched up 0.03 cents to 75.89 cents U.S.
Gold stocks shone brightest with OceanaGold gaining 26 cents, or 9.9%, to $2.88, while Torex Gold Resources soaring $1.90, or 9.5%, to $21.91.
Health-care stocks stood out, too, with Aurinia ahead 67 cents, or 3.5%, to $19.76, while Chartwell Retirement Residences picked up 34 cents, or 3.2%, to $10.84.
Among materials, Silvercrest climbed $1.16, or 9.3%, to $13.69, while Pretium Resources tacked on $1.58, or 9.3%, to $18.60.
Energy stocks continued to wallow, however, with Crescent Point Energy sagging eight cents, or 4.4%, to $1.76, while MEG Energy losing 12 cents, or 4%, to $2.88.
In the communications field, BCE backpedaled $1.02, or 1.8%, to $55.92, while Cineplex fell 21 cents, or 2.5%, to $8.18
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 8.36 points, or 1.1%, to 741.73.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher on the session, with gold ahead 3%, health-care picking up 2.8%, while materials surged 2.7%.
Only energy, sliding 0.6%, missed the festivities, as well ass communications, skidding 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks rose on Monday as a slew of corporate dealmaking activity and optimism toward a coronavirus vaccine sparked a broad market rally.
The Dow Jones Industrials came off its dizzy heights of the day, but still rocketed 327.69 points, or 1.2%, to finish Monday at 27,993.33
The S&P 500 progressed 42.57 points, or 1.3%, to 3,383.54.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ zoomed 203.11 points, or 1.9%, to 11,101.22, after its worst week since March.
Shares of Apple jumped 3%. The market has been following in the footsteps of its rally leader. Apple shares are still down 10.6% this month.
Tesla shares rebounded 12.6%. The once-surging stock is down more than 15% in September after it failed to gain entry into the benchmark S&P 500, something investors were anticipating.
Tech sentiment was lifted by news of Nvidia buying chipmaker Arm Holdings from SoftBank for $40 billion. Nvidia will finance the deal through a combination of cash and common stock. Nvidia popped 5.8%. Other chipmakers also gained, including AMD, Micron and Skyworks.
Meanwhile, ByteDance rejected Microsoft’s bid to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations. Instead, ByteDance has chosen Oracle to be TikTok’s U.S. technology partner, and Oracle will take a significant stake in the business. Oracle shares were up 4.3%.
Outside of tech, Gilead said it will acquire Immunomedics to expand its cancer treatments for $21 billion. Immunomedics shares doubled.
Sentiment was also boosted by signs of progress toward a coronavirus vaccine. AstraZeneca resumed phase three trials for its coronavirus vaccine in the U.K. following a halt due to safety concerns. However, its trials in the U.S. remains on hold as American regulators investigate the side effects flagged in the U.K. study, Reuters reported Monday.
Meanwhile, Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla said on Sunday that a coronavirus vaccine could be distributed in the U.S. before the year-end.
Prices for the 10-Year Treasury were unchanged, keeping yields at Friday’s 0.67%.
Oil prices doffed two cents to $37.31 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices improved $19.00 to $1,966.90 U.S. an ounce.
