Investors pumped the markets in Toronto higher Thursday, as suspense remained as to the immediate future of the conflict in Iran.
The TSX Composite Index ballooned 247.64 points to conclude Thursday at 34,409.49.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.16 cents to 72.57 cents U.S.
Heavyweight mining stocks were down after gold prices fell, with Perpetua Resources swooning 99 cents, or 2.6%, to $36.82, to $36.53, G Mining Ventures off $1.04, or 2.4%, to $41.70, and Discovery Silver falling 20 cents, or 2.5%, to $8.48.
Lightspeed fell 82 cents, or 6.6%, to $11.53 after the commerce platform's fourth-quarter profit missed estimates.
Magna International moved forward $3.33, or 4%, to $86.94, while Dollarama grabbed $3.22, or 1.8%, to $178.49.
Transalta gained 68 cents, or 3.8%, to $18.53, while Superior Brands moved up 20 cents, or 2.7%, to $7.66.
In financials, Alimentation Couche-Tard slid 93 cents, or 1.2%, to $78.71, while George Weston dropped 51 cents to $96.80.
Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a directive that the country's near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, two senior Iranian sources said, hardening Tehran's stance on one of the main U.S. demands in ongoing negotiations.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange let go of 1.71 points to 977.97.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were green on the day, led by consumer discretionary stocks, up 1.5%, financials 1.2%, and real-estate, up 1.1%.
The two laggards were consumer staples, off 0.4%, and energy, sliding 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 ticked higher on Thursday as oil prices and Treasury yields were volatile, with traders hoping for a resolution to the Middle East conflict.
The Dow Jones Industrials accelerated 276.43 points to 50,285.78
The much broader index climbed 12.73 points to 7,445.70.
The NASDAQ gained 22.74 points to 26,293.10.
Traders on Thursday also digested Nvidia’s latest quarterly report. Nvidia breezed past Wall Street’s expectations for earnings and guidance, in addition to announcing a hike in its quarterly cash dividend to 25 cents.
But investors have come to expect the chipmaker to beat estimates and raise its outlook amid the AI boom.
Crude prices jumped after Reuters reported, citing sources, that Iran’s supreme leader issued a directive to keep enriched uranium within the country — further complicating the outlook to a resolution to the U.S.-Iran war.
West Texas Intermediate futures were up 3% at $102 per barrel. Brent crude popped 3% to $108 per barrel.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury climbed. lowering yields to 4.56% from Wednesday’s 4.57%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices skidded 78 cents to $97.48 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices recovered $5.50 to $4,540.80 U.S. an ounce.
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