TORONTO: Canada’s main stock index was slightly lower on Friday morning as losses in financial shares countered gains in energy and materials stocks.
At 10:18 a.m. ET (1418 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 29.04 points, or 0.19 percent, to 15,327.01.
The Canadian economy added more jobs than expected last month, however economists still expect the central bank to take its time raising interest rates again.
The financial index was down 0.3 percent, led by declines in Toronto-Dominion Bank and Royal Bank of Canada , down more than 0.3 percent each.
Wall Street slipped as United States’ latest threat to slap extra tariffs on China escalated trade tensions between the two countries.
Torex Gold Resources rose 39.3 percent and boosted the materials group. The miner said blockades at its ELG Mine Complex in Mexico had been lifted.
Canadian National Railway was down more 0.5 percent and was the biggest drag on the industrial sector.
The energy sector was up 0.2 percent, led by gains in Suncor Energy, even as crude oil prices fell.
The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and no new lows. Across all Canadian issues there were six new 52-week highs and three new lows.
Torex was the largest percentage gainer on the TSX, while the largest decliner was Aphria Inc, down 4.0 percent.
Among the most active Canadian stocks by volumes were Aurora Cannabis, Nemaska Lithium and Neovasc Inc.
Volume on the TSX index was 14.64 million shares, while total volume on Friday was 24.20 million shares.
Source: Brecorder
