CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips as gold, financial shares weigh; pot stocks bounce

By Kitco News / January 08, 2018 / www.kitco.com / Article Link

(Adds details throughout and updates prices to close)

* TSX closes down 31.79 points, or 0.19 percent, at 16,317.65

* Materials group falls 0.7 percent

* Seven of the TSX's 10 main groups end lower


TORONTO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index retreated on Monday as shares of some materials and financial services companies weighed, offset by gains for marijuana producers.

* The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed down 31.79 points, or 0.19 percent, at 16,317.65.

* The index, which has rallied as much as 10 percent since August, posted a record high last week at 16,421.42.

* The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, fell 0.7 percent as gold mining stocks lost ground.

* Eldorado Gold Corp declined 6.3 percent to C$1.65, while the price of gold held below last week's 3-1/2-month high and the U.S. dollar climbed.* Nutrien Ltd , the fertilizer company formed last week by a merger of Potash Corp of Saskatchewan and Agrium, was down 3.3 percent at C$66.85.

* The financials group, which accounts for more than one third of the index's weight, slipped 0.3 percent, with Manulife Financial Corp declining 0.6 percent to C$26.50

* WestJet Airlines Inc fell 2.0 percent to C$25.50 after one of its planes was involved in an on-ground collision at a Toronto airport late on Friday. Larger rival Air Canada was off 3.2 percent at C$23.88. * U.S. crude oil futures settled 0.5 percent higher at $61.73 a barrel, near their highest since May 2015. But the energy group slipped for the third straight session, down 0.1 percent. * Just three of the index's 10 main groups ended in positive territory. Sharp gains for cannabis stocks helped the healthcare sector rise to its highest since January 2016.

* Canopy Growth Corp rose 17.2 percent to C$39.86 and Aphria Inc was up 14.8 percent at $21.02.

* Cannabis producers had dipped last week, capping a recent rally, after the U.S. Department of Justice rescinded a policy that had eased enforcement of U.S. federal marijuana laws in states that had legalized the drug. Canada is working toward legalizing recreational use later this year. * Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc was down 3.2 percent at C$28.67.

* Canadian companies remain optimistic about future sales despite some moderation from highs, and signs of capacity pressures and labor shortages have picked up, the Bank of Canada said, reinforcing expectations for an interest rate hike. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp and Fergal Smith; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Tom Brown)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Recent News

Gold stocks gain even as metal price pulls back

April 29, 2024 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Copper price forecast swinging significantly on shifting outlook

April 29, 2024 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Upgrades continue for 2024 gold price target...

April 22, 2024 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Gold stocks edge up as weak equities offset metal rise

April 22, 2024 / www.canadianminingreport.com

Major investment banks make major gold price upgrades

April 15, 2024 / www.canadianminingreport.com
See all >
Share to Youtube Share to Facebook Facebook Share to Linkedin Share to Twitter Twitter Share to Tiktok