The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed at a new record high for the third straight session on Tuesday as higher oil prices and gains in utilities and telecommunications stocks offset weakness in the technology sector.
The index closed up 17.59 points, or 0.1%, at 36,475.92, with mixed sectors. Utilities led gainers, up 1.8%, while the telecom sector rose 1.3%. Information Technology led decliners, down 1.7%.
The Battery Metals Index, which includes companies listed both on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange, jumped 4%.
In commodities, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude rose on Tuesday as renewed concerns over global supply disruptions outweighed signs of progress in negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions to oil operations in Libya and a Ukrainian strike on a Russian refinery added to concerns over crude supplies.
September WTI crude oil contract settled up $1.07, or 1.3%, at $83.20 per barrel, while October Brent oil was last seen up $1.12, or 1.3%, at $88.84 per barrel.
Meanwhile, December Comex gold futures gained 0.2%, or $8.90, to $4,428.60 per ounce.
In currencies, the US dollar edged down 0.1% against the Canadian dollar to 1.3925 at last look.
Desjardins Economics said the Canadian dollar is likely to see only limited gains this year, with ongoing US trade uncertainty continuing to weigh on the currency.
Desjardins expects the exchange rate at 1.42 this quarter, unchanged from the second quarter, while forecasting it to reach 1.40 in the last three months of the year. It is then forecast to fall to 1.38 in the first three months of 2027 and to 1.37 in the second quarter.
Meanwhile National Bank of Canada Capital Markets forecasts the USD/CAD will fall to 1.35 by Q1 2027 and 1.33 by Q2 next year.
Canada's pro-growth agenda should support investment and underpin the bank's constructive medium-term outlook for the Canadian dollar, wrote National Bank's Chief Economist and Strategist Stefane Marion and Senior Economist Kyle Dahms in a note.
On the economic front, easing inflationary pressures could provide some relief to Canadian consumers next year.
After years of squeezed disposable incomes and restrained discretionary spending, this could support a modest recovery in household consumption, according to CIBC Capital Markets said in a Tuesday note.
In corporate news, Francisco Partners entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian payments company Moneris Solutions from Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) and Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) for about C$2 billion in cash, the companies said. BMO and RBC will each receive 50% of the proceeds from the transaction.
Separately, the Government of Canada's latest Treasury bill auction saw solid demand, according to data published on the Bank of Canada's website on Tuesday.