Equities in Canada’s largest market had trouble getting untracked Tuesday, despite gains by mining stocks, while investors awaiting the decision from the Bank of Canada, due for Wednesday.
The TSX Composite eased back 3.82 points to begin Tuesday at 20,238.44.
The Canadian dollar fell 0.27 cents to 73.32 cents U.S.
In individual company news, Cenovus Energy forecast higher capital expenditure for 2023, as it looks to boost production in response to higher crude prices amid a supply crunch caused by sanctions on Russia. Cenovus shares galloped 57 cents, or 2.2%, to $26.65.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada said Canada's merchandise exports rose 1.5% in October, while imports increased 0.6%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade surplus with the world widened from $607 million in September to $1.2 billion in October. The IVEY PMI index registered at 51.4 in November, compared to 50.1 in October, and much lower than its November 2021 reading of 61.2.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange recovered 4.18 points to 585.82
The 12 subgroups were evenly split, with gold stocks climbing 1.2%, materials up 1%, and energy rumbling 0.8%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed most by health-care, sliding 3%, information technology, off 1.3%, and industrials, down 0.8%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks fell Tuesday, building on losses from the previous session as fears of even higher rates stoked recessionary fears.
The Dow Jones Industrials stumbled 135.46 points to 33,811.64.
The S&P 500 subtracted 32.29 points to 3,966.55.
The NASDAQ dropped 142.56 points, or 1.3%, to 11,097.38.
Better-than-expected November ISM Services data, which looks at the purchasing level of manufacturers as a gauge the health of the broader economy, pressured equities Monday. The report further fueled fears that the Federal Reserve will need to hike rates for longer than anticipated to bring down inflation.
Markets are largely expecting a 50-basis-point rate hike at the Fed’s December meeting, but remain conflicted over how long the central bank’s interest rate hiking campaign will need to last.
Meta Platforms’ stock shed 5% amid news that the company may pull news from Facebook if Congress passes a proposal that makes it easier for news organizations to negotiate with platforms sharing their content.
Netflix, Nvidia and Amazon all fell more than 1% each, while Tesla shed 2.8%.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained slightly, lowering yields to 3.57% from Monday’s 3.59%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gave up 48 cents to $76.45 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices recovered $2.70 to $1,784.00 U.S. an ounce.
