Canada's main stock index was on course for its worst session in a month on Wednesday after the Bank of Canada signaled it could raise interest rates sooner than previously forecast.
Equities in Canada’s largest market opened sharply lower on Wednesday, dragged by energy shares on weaker oil prices, while investors digested the Bank of Canada's policy announcement.
The TSX Composite had lost 176.98 points by midday Wednesday to 20.996.47.
The Canadian dollar gained 0.29 cents to 81 cents U.S.
Capital Power stumbled $2.43, or 5.7%, to $40.24, and Algonquin Power & Utilities faded 71 cents, or 3.8%, to $17.90.
On the economic front, the Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of 0.25%, with the Bank Rate at 0.5% and the deposit rate at 0.025%
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange swooned 10.68 points, to 948.08
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were down by lunch hour, with information technology and health-care each down 1.7% and consumer staples off 1.4%.
The two gainers were communications, ahead 0.4%, and real-estate, eking ahead 0.01%.
ON WALLSTREET
The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average fell from a record high on Wednesday as the momentum from a strong earnings season started to fade.
The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 125.90 points to 35,630.98, from Tuesday’s all-time record.
The S&P 500 dipped 2.05 points to 4,572.24, from Tuesday’s record high.
The NASDAQ Composite picked up 75.33 points to 15.311.04, mid a jump in Microsoft and Alphabet shares.
Strong results have been key to pushing the major averages to new highs. The S&P 500 has rallied more than 6% in October, on track for its best monthly performance since November 2020. The equity benchmark reached its 57th record close of 2021 on Tuesday.
Microsoft shares jumped 4% after the tech company reported earnings that exceeded analysts’ estimates and the fastest revenue growth since 2018. Google-parent Alphabet also popped more than 4% following a stronger-than-expected quarterly report.
General Motors shares fell more than 3% even after the industrial giant topped Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates for the third quarter. Boeing saw its stock falling 1.4% after the aircraft maker posted a wider-than-expected loss.
Robinhood shares were getting slammed, down 11% the day after the trading app reported revenue well below expectations primarily due to weakness in crypto trading.
Texas Instruments shares tumbled 4% after the company missed revenue estimates while Visa fell 2.5% despite beating on the top and bottom lines. Enphase Energy leaped 20% after reporting record revenue in face of supply chain headwinds.
Coca-Cola rose 2.6% after the company posted a beat on the top and bottom lines and raised its outlook, saying the business was getting stronger particularly in areas where the COVID recovery has been the best.
So far, roughly 30% of the S&P 500 has reported earnings. Of the names that have posted quarterly updates, 82% have topped earnings expectations, while 80% have exceeded revenue estimates.
Prices for 10-year Treasurys gained sharply, lowering yields to 1.55% from Tuesday’s 1.61%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices weakened $1.59 to $83.06 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices recovered $2.80 to $1,796.20 U.S. an ounce.
