Equities in Canada’s largest centre opened at a record high on Friday after data showed that surprise job loss in August strengthened investor expectations for a potential interest-rate cut by the Bank of Canada later this month.
The TSX Composite Index climbed 158.68 points to begin the week’s last session at 29,074.57.
The Canadian dollar regained 0.59 cents to 72.33 cents U.S.
In corporate news, Strathcona Resources bought additional 6.04 million common shares of rival MEG Energy for about $172.7 million. Shares in Strathcona dropped 25 cents to $38.61.
On the macroeconomic scene, Statistics Canada reported the economy dumped 66,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.1%.
Elsewhere, the IVEY PMI collapsed to 50.1 in August, from 55.8 in July, but much higher than the 48.2 reading for August 2024.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange reasserted itself 6.93 points to 851.15.
All but one of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher in the first hour, with information technology chugging along 3%, while shares in gold and materials jumped 1.2%.
Only energy missed the boat, losing 1%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks rose to all-time highs despite a weak August jobs report as traders bet the data would lead the Federal Reserve to cut rates later this month.
The Dow Jones Industrials gained 40.13 points to open Friday at 45,661.42,
The S&P 500 index took on 7.04 points to 6,509.12.
The NASDAQ advanced 77.22 points to 21,784.91.
Stocks are also on pace for a winning week. The S&P 500 has climbed 1%, while the technology-heavy NASDAQ Composite has registered a 1.8% gain. The 30-stock Dow has gained 0.4%.
A pop in Broadcom shares supported Friday’s move higher. That comes on the heels of the chipmaker’s latest quarterly results beating Wall Street’s expectations. The company’s chief executive, Hock Tan, also disclosed in a call with analysts that Broadcom had secured $10 billion in custom AI chip orders from a new customer.
The August jobs report saw the U.S. economy add 22,000 jobs on the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. That’s below the 75,000 that economists polled by Dow Jones had expected. The unemployment rate also rose to 4.3%, in line with expectations.
Traders are hoping the reading will lend support to the Fed’s case to go ahead with an expected rate cut at its September policy meeting. Fed funds futures trading suggests that benchmark interest rates will likely move a quarter percentage point lower when the central bank makes a decision on Sept.17,
Prices for 10-year Treasury leaped Friday, lowering yields to 4.09% from Thursday’s 4.16%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices stumbled $1.33 to $62.15 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices raised themselves $44.00 at $3,650.70 U.S. an ounce.
Stocks Rise to Record Levels
