Canada's main stock index notched a record high on Monday as industrial and energy shares rose, while markets saw higher odds of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump winning the November polls after surviving an assassination attempt.
The TSX Composite Index sailed higher 142.35 points midday Monday at 22,815.87.
The Canadian dollar leaned back 0.08 cents to 73.19 cents U.S.
In corporate news, iron ore mine operator Cleveland-Cliffs was set to acquire Stelco Holdings for $70 per share in a deal valued at $3.4 billion. Stelco shares bounced $27.60, or 73.9%, to $64.96.
In the economic data Monday, Statistics Canada reported May wholesale trade fell 0.8% to $82.2 billion in May. while manufacturing sales rose 0.4% in May, mainly on higher production of aerospace products and parts, as well as sales of food products. The gains were partially offset by lower sales of motor vehicles.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange nicked up 3.22 points to 596.92
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were positive by noon hour EDT, with energy surging 1.5%, information technology up 1%, and communications better by 0.9%.
The two laggards proved to be utilities, down 0.6%, and consumer staples, off 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks advanced on Monday as investors bet the unsuccessful assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump will lead to big gains for the Republican presidential candidate and the GOP at the polls in November.
The Dow Jones Industrials Average plowed ahead 297.97 points to 40,298.87.
The S&P 500 index picked up 33.02 points to 5,648.37.
The NASDAQ popped 119.86 points, or 1%, to 18,518.31.
Traders were monitoring the latest developments with the attempted assassination of Trump, the Republican candidate for president. While it had potential to create more political strife in the country, investors also speculated this could further propel Trump and Republicans in the polls ahead of the November election.
The Republican National Convention commences Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Trump leading President Joe Biden in national polls.
Friendlier fiscal policies ahead were seen as further spurring a broadening out of the bull market that started to take shape last week. Small-cap shares and banks led the gains Monday.
Humana and UnitedHealth Group each rose more than 1% in the session. The insurers could benefit from fewer cost pressures coming from a Republican administration.
Goldman Sachs shares traded more than 1% higher after posting earnings that exceeded analysts’ expectations.
Goldman is one of the more than 40 S&P 500 companies reporting second-quarter earnings this week as the new season ramps up. This list also includes household names such as Bank of America, United Airlines and Netflix
Investors will also follow remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury faded, raising yields to 4.21% from Friday’s 4.18%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices dipped 34 cents at $81.87 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices revived $17.70 to $2,438.40
