Canada's main stock index fell on Wednesday, weighed by weakness in health-care and technology shares amid growing fears that aggressive policy tightening by central banks to tackle inflation will tip economies into recession.
The S&P/TSX lost 141.64 points to break for lunch Wednesday at 19,081.10.
The Canadian dollar was unchanged at 77.68 cents U.S.
Among cannabis concerns, Aurora Cannabis dropped 17 cents, or 8.8%, to $1.76, while Tilray fell 19 cents, or 4.3%, to $4.27.
In techs, the big story was Shopify, which collapsed $408.21, or 90.5%, to $42.81, while Sierra Wireless faded $2.82, or 9.2%, to $27.83.
Materials also took a beating, with Capstone Mining tumbling 22 cents, or 6.1%, to $3.39, while Labrador Iron One sliding $1.86, or 6%, to $29.15.
Consumer staples more than held their own, with George Weston hiking $3.20, or 2.2%, to $!50.68, while Loblaw Companies added $2.10, or 1.8%, to $116.11.
In industrials, Bombardier gained 28 cents, or 1.4%, to $19.69, while Thomson Reuters tallied $1.61, or 1.2%, to $131.98.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange retreated 12.22 points to 632.69.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups had lost ground by the noon hour, with health-care doffing 3.5%, information technology bowing 2.2%, and materials down 1.9%.
The two gainers were consumer staples, heading higher 0.6%, and industrials, better by only 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose on Wednesday, after the major averages made a failed attempt at a bounce in the previous session, and as the market prepares to close out the worst first half of the year since 1970.
The 30-stock index came off its highs of the morning, but still jumped 93.37 points to 31,040.36.
The S&P 500 eked up 0.45 points to 3,822.
The NASDAQ Composite took on 2.24 points to 11,183.78.
Investors are still searching for the bottom of a vicious market selloff as the second quarter comes to an end Thursday. Concern over a slowing economy and aggressive rate hikes consumed much of the first half of 2022, and fears of a recession fears are rising.
The S&P 500, which is down about 20% in 2022, is on pace for its worst first half of the year since 1970, when the index lost 21.01%.
Meanwhile, on a quarterly basis, both the Dow and S&P 500 are on track for their worst performance since 2020. The NASDAQ is headed toward its worst three-month period since 2008.
On Wednesday, General Mills shares rose 5% after the company topped earnings and revenue forecasts for its most recent quarter.
Tech stocks were among the top gainers in the Dow and S&P. Amazon rose 2.2% after JPMorgan reiterated its overweight rating on the stock and Redburn initiated it at a buy.
Meta Platforms, Apple and Microsoft were also up about 2% each.
Meanwhile, Carnival slid 14% after Morgan Stanley cut its price target on the stock in half and said it could potentially go to zero in the face of another demand shock. The call dragged other cruise stocks lower. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings each fell 9%.
Bed Bath & Beyond shares plummeted more than 20% after the company posted a huge miss on quarterly earnings and revenue expectations and announced its CEO is stepping down.
On Wednesday Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said she will advocate for a 75-basis-point hike to interest rates at the central bank’s July meeting if economic conditions remain the same by then.
Investors are also looking ahead to comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at a European Central Bank forum.
Treasury prices strengthened, lowering yields to 3.10% from Tuesday’s 3.19%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices lost 14 cents to $111.61 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices retreated $3.20 to $1,818 U.S. an ounce.
