The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed higher on Wednesday as gains in health care and financial stocks outweighed weakness in technology and utilities, while investors assessed the Bank of Canada's decision to hold interest rates steady amid rising inflation risks and continuing trade tensions.
The index closed up 265.88 points, or 0.7%, to 36,091.61, with mixed sectors. Health Care led advancers, up 1.9%, followed by Financials that closed up 1.5%. Information Technology and Energy were down 1.5% and 1.1%, respectively.
The Battery Metals Index, which includes companies listed both on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange, dropped 4.1%.
In commodities, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude rose on Wednesday as continued fighting between the US and Iran kept concerns over Middle East oil supplies in focus. The October WTI crude oil contract settled up $0.79, or 0.9%, at $91.01 per barrel, while November Brent oil was last seen up $0.94, or 1.0%, at $95.59 per barrel.
Meanwhile, December Comex gold futures jumped 0.8%, or $36.20, to $4,432.60 per ounce at last look.
In currencies, the US dollar edged lower 0.4% against the Canadian dollar, with USD/CAD at 1.3839 at last look.
Canadian two-year bond yields edged higher and the loonie strengthened against the US dollar after the Bank of Canada left its policy rate unchanged at 2.25% on Wednesday, as expected, according to TD Economics in a note.
The policy statement struck a slightly hawkish tone, as the BoC pointed to rising inflation risks from higher energy prices, new US tariffs and Canada's retaliatory measures, said TD.
Canada's central bank said its current policy stance remains appropriate while reiterating that it is ready to adjust rates if economic conditions change.
The BoC maintained a wait-and-see stance as rising inflation risks compete with an increasingly uncertain growth outlook, said CIBC Economics in a note.
Canada's central bank judged the direct impact of the US's latest tariffs would be limited but warned that broader trade uncertainty would continue to weigh on the economy, added CIBC.
US-Canada trade negotiations broke down on Aug. 21, and tensions have continued to rise. The US imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion in Canadian goods, prompting Canada to announce similar-amount retaliatory tariffs that are scheduled to take effect next Tuesday.