Canada’s main stock index ended higher on Thursday, helped by gains among energy stocks as oil prices picked up as well as rising financial, consumer and technology stocks.
The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE closed up 106.9 points, or 0.67 percent, at 16,015.68.
Eight of the index’s 10 main sectors finished in positive territory, with advancers outnumbering decliners by a 1.7-to-1 ratio.
The financials group, which accounts for more than a third of the index’s weight, gained 0.6 percent as Brookfield Asset Management Inc (BAMa.TO) added 2.8 percent to C$55.25 and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) rose 1.2 percent to C$82.78.
The energy group, another major force on the index, added 0.4 percent, with Suncor Energy Inc (SU.TO) up 1.3 percent at C$44.11 and pipeline operator Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO)
Oil prices climbed more than 1 percent due to a threatened strike in Nigeria and as traders cover shorts after sharp losses the previous day brought on by an unexpectedly large rise in U.S. stocks of refined fuels. [O/R]
BlackBerry Ltd (BB.TO) rose 1.2 percent to C$13.21 after announcing it would expand its partnership with chipmaker Qualcomm into automotive systems on a non-exclusive basis.
Dollarama Inc (DOL.TO) jumped 5.3 percent to C$157.61 after the discount store chain announced a share buyback plan and as a string of analysts adjusted their price targets on the stock following earnings that topped expectations on Wednesday.
Industrials, led by gains for the country’s two main railway companies, rose 0.7 percent, while Westjet Airlines Ltd (WJA.TO) added 2.9 percent to C$27.16 after RBC raised its price target on the stock after its Wednesday announcement of a joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.7 percent.
Source: Reuters
