Canada’s main stock index struggled to find direction on Thursday as escalating global trade tensions fueled risk-aversion, with strong bank earnings failing to boost market sentiment.
The TSX Composite Index remained negative 19.28 points to 25,309.08 midday Thursday
The Canadian dollar sagged 0.38 cents to 69.36 cents U.S.
RBC reported a higher first-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by strong performance in its wealth management unit. Shares in Canada’s largest bank tumbled $3.91, or 2.3%, to $167.51.
Other smaller peers Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia and National Bank of Canada also exceeded profit expectations earlier this week, similarly benefiting from strong wealth management revenues.
TD shares gained 31 cents to $85.98
Shares in BMO backtracked 19 cents to $48.90, while those for Scotiabank dropped 49 cents to $71.89. National shares lost 77 cents to $119.70.
Utilities provider Superior Plus topped the benchmark index with a rise of 49 cents, or 8.3%, to $6.42, after it exceeded quarterly revenue estimates.
Shares of oil producer Veren rose 77 cents, or 11.1%, to $7.69 following better-than-expected quarterly results.
On the economic calendar, Statistics Canada reported the number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer—measured as “payroll employment” in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—increased by 25,300 (+0.1%) in December, following a decrease of 14,400 (-0.1%) in November and three consecutive months of little change from August to October.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange faded 0.46 points to 629.40.
Eight of the 12 subgroups were in positive territory in the first hour, led by energy, ahead 0.9%, telecoms, up 0.4%, while health-care stocks surged 0.3%.
The four laggards were weighed most by gold, down 1.7%, while materials floundered 1%, and financials were poorer by 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 ticked down during a volatile session, following President Donald Trump’s declaration that tariffs on Canada and Mexico would proceed as planned, as well as a negative reversal in bellwether stock Nvidia following earnings.
The Dow Jones Industrials gained 214.85 points to 43,647.67, thanks to gains in JPMorgan Chase and 3M.
The much-broader index handed over 16.05 points to 5,940.01, to remain in the red for the week and month.
The NASDAQ Composite dipped 164.11 points to 18,911.16, with Nvidia’s 4.2% decline pulling the tech-heavy index lower.
With just two trading sessions left in February, all three major averages are on pace to finish lower. The broad market index has dropped 1.4%, while the Dow and the NASDAQ have declined more than 2% each.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced the proposed tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada will take effect on March 4 after the one-month moratorium ends.
Trump claimed hat the two countries had yet to curb the flow of drugs over the border by enough. The president also stated that China, which already faces 10% tariffs from the U.S., would face an additional 10% levy.
Shares of Nvidia declined even after the chip giant exceeded fourth-quarter estimates on the top and bottom lines. The AI play also issued strong guidance, reflecting continued demand driven by the artificial intelligence race.
However, the company’s posted a decline in grows margin for the quarter and its smallest revenue beat in two years, raising questions about whether the bull market leader could keep its momentum going.
Besides Trump’s tariff declaration, a jump in jobless claims also subdued sentiment, adding to recent concerns of economic softening. Jobless claims for the week ending Feb. 22 came in at 242,000.
This was up 22,000 from the previous week’s revised level and higher than the Dow Jones estimate for 225,000, according to a Labor Department report Thursday.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained a bit, lowering yields to Wednesday’s 4.28%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained $1.41 to $70.03 U.S. a barrel.
Prices for gold faded $40.30 an ounce to $2,890.30 U.S.
