The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed lower on Monday as weakness in technology stocks outweighed gains in energy and base metals shares, while investors digested data showing Canadian inflation accelerated to 3.0% in July.
The index closed down 62.35 points, or 0.2%, to 36,667.92, with most sectors ending in the red. Energy led gainers, up 2.0%, while Base Metals was up 1.9%. Information Technology closed down 1.9%.
In commodities, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude rose on Monday as stalled US-Iran peace efforts and heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz renewed concerns over Middle East oil supplies. September WTI crude oil contract settled up $2.10, or 2.6%, at $84.50 per barrel, while October Brent oil was last seen up $2.42, or 2.7%, at $90.94 per barrel.
Meanwhile, December Comex gold futures gained 0.8%, or $36.70, to $4,474.00 per ounce.
In currencies, the US dollar edged lower 0.01% against the Canadian dollar, with USD/CAD at 1.3873 at last look.
On the economic front, Canadian inflation accelerated in July, largely reflecting higher gasoline and travel costs.
Canada's consumer price index accelerated to 3.0% annually in July, up from 2.8% in June, driven by higher gasoline and travel-tour prices, according to the country's statistical agency on Monday.
Annual gasoline inflation accelerated to 25.7% in July from 20.5% in June, reflecting upward pressure from disruptions to Middle East shipping routes, while travel-tour prices rose 15.2% from 6.8%, partly due to higher hotel and airfare costs associated with the soccer World Cup travel, wrote Statistics Canada in a statement.
However, economists agree that July's higher CPI will not concern the Bank of Canada, allowing the central bank to keep rates on hold for the rest of 2026.
"The inflation side is looking stable and well-behaved despite a bit of heat in July. We continue to see the Bank of Canada on hold for the remainder of the year," wrote BMO Capital Markets Senior Economist Robert Kavcic in a note.
Separately, cross-border investment activity remained strong in June. International investors purchased C$40.8 billion of Canadian securities in June, led by federal government debt and private-sector corporate bonds, while Canadian investors bought C$35.4 billion of international securities, mainly US equities and corporate bonds, said Statistics Canada on Monday.
In energy news, Hydro-Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro reached an agreement on sharing electricity generated in Labrador and developing more than $50 billion in new energy infrastructure, with support from the federal government, reported The Canadian Press.