Canada's main stock index gathered marginal strength on Friday, as U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at ending the Middle East conflict were called off, fueling fresh speculation the peace would be an uneasy one.
The TSX Composite Index recovered 33.91 points to begin Friday at 35,003.17. On the week so far, the index has gained 65 points, or 0.2%.
The Canadian dollar eased 0.12 cents to 70.60 cents U.S.
Expectations of a peace deal and a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies, supported global risk appetite this week.
Gold stocks are in the picture, particularly, Kinross Gold, which opened Friday down 66 cents, or 1.8%, to $37.04, while OceanaGold slid 96 cents, or 4.1%, to $37.36.
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The TSX Venture Exchange lost 8.54 points Friday to 954.35. On the week so far, the index is down 4.88 points, or 0.5%.
All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups were positive, led by financials, up 0.7%, energy, up 0.6%, and utilities, better by 0.5%.
The three laggards were materials, slumping 2.2%, gold, duller by 1.6%, and information technology, off 0.4%.
Oil prices advanced 16 cents to $76.76 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices tumbled $75.80 to $4,170.10 U.S an ounce.
On the economic calendar, retail sales increased 0.5% to $73.0 billion in April. Sales were up in five of nine subsectors, led by increases at gasoline stations and fuel vendors.
U.S. markets were closed Friday for Juneteenth.
