S&P/TSX Composite Index

TSX Down Over 220 Points as Materials, Energy Sectors Fall

The Toronto Stock Exchange is down over 220 points at midday with the materials and energy sectors the hardest hit, with both sectors down more the 3%.Gold fell to a multi-month low today, slipping below US$4,000 per ounce, on traders' expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year as well as a strong U.S. dollar.Crude oil is down 4% to hover around US$70 per barrel as more ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz.Info tech, up 3.4% is the top performer, followed by the healthcare sector, which is 1.8% higher.

TSX Closer: Index Falls as Base Metals Slump Overshadows Broad Sector Gains

The Toronto Stock Exchange closed lower on Tuesday as sharp losses in base metals stocks outweighed gains in telecom, utilities, health care and financial shares, while investors weighed the outlook for inflation, interest rates and the Canadian economy.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 74.80 points, or 0.21%, at 34,927.38, even as most sectors ended the session in positive territory.Telecom led gainers, up 1.24%, with Industrials, Energy, Utilities, Battery Metals Index, Health Care, and Financial, up 0.62%, 0.02%, 0.89%, 0.12%, 0.62%, and 0.34%, respectively. Base Metals led decliners, down 5.17%, while Information and Technology dropped 0.36%.In commodities, gold fell on Tuesday as the dollar continued to climb after the Federal Reserve last week warned interest rates may rise as inflation continues to run ahead of its 2% target. The precious metal for August delivery was last seen down 1.7% to US$4,130.20 per ounce.Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil closed lower Tuesday, falling for a third session as tankers begin moving through the Strait of Hormuz amid continued peace talks between the US and Iran. WTI crude oil for August delivery closed 0.9% lower to settle at US$73.21 per barrel, the lowest since March 2, while August Brent oil was last down 1.1% to US$77.08.On the economic front, investors also assessed the latest inflation data for clues on the Bank of Canada's interest-rate path. Canada's consumer price index rose in May, but it may mark the peak and keep the central bank on hold, according to UBS Global Research, even as food-price inflation "is something to watch".The bank wrote in a note sent on Tuesday that prices may have peaked because June gasoline prices have fallen roughly 8% versus May. The headline index rose 0.4 percentage point to 3.2% year over year and core CPI added 0.1 point to 1.6% annually, according to data released on Monday by Statistics Canada.In currency markets, analysts said diverging interest-rate expectations continued to weigh on the Canadian dollar.The Canadian dollar weakened versus its US counterpart, driven by widening interest rate differentials, Societe Generale Economics said in a Tuesday note. A larger gap between two-year U.S. Treasury and Canadian government bond yields pushed the U.S. dollar higher against the Canadian currency, with the exchange rate up to a 14-month high of almost $1.42, wrote the bank in its note.However, markets showed little reaction to Canada's higher-than-expected May consumer price index print, said SocGen. The Bank of Canada is seen keeping rates on hold for the "foreseeable future", it added.Additionally, provincial borrowing in Canada reached unprecedented levels as of Monday, having collectively sold $104 billion of debt worldwide, setting a new record for the first six months of the year, said National Bank of Canada Capital Markets.On the surface, record borrowing is "no reason to rejoice," managing director Warren Lovely wrote. This year's rapid borrowing reflects unusually high financing needs, driven by wider budget deficits and spending required to support and reshape regional economies that are less productive and more exposed to trade with the US and its new tariffs, the bank said.Meanwhile, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem pointed to persistent global economic imbalances as another challenge facing policymakers and financial markets. Global imbalances are once more exerting pressure through trade, capital flows and financial markets, prompting questions about whether they will be managed ahead of time or corrected abruptly, said Macklem on Tuesday. Market and policy consensus is growing that domestic policy distortions in major economies are driving these imbalances, he added in a speech in France made available by the central bank.That correction will hinge on China consuming more, the US saving more and Europe investing more. Some progress is underway, but a coordinated and sustained effort will be needed for noticeable improvement, stated Macklem. As to a solution to the problem, "I see three priorities: openness, investability and transparency," said the head of Canada's central bank at a Chambre de Commerce France-Canada event in Paris.Separately, economists also weighed proposals aimed at boosting domestic investment and economic growth.The federal government is weighing a Canada Strong Fund that could give households the option to invest alongside Ottawa in domestic growth projects, Scotiabank Economics said. The aim is to boost participation in nation-building investments and steer more household savings toward national priorities, the bank wrote."The idea is novel," wrote Rebekah Young, vice-president, economic policy, as it would allow "Canadians to share more directly in the upside of the domestic growth agenda".Also, a new survey pointed to cautious sentiment among prospective homebuyers despite signs that some see opportunities in the housing market. Royal Bank of Canada's latest home ownership poll found that while 45% of Canadians intending to purchase a home within the next two years believe now is the right time to buy, 75% said economic uncertainty is making them more cautious, reported The Canadian Press.The survey further found that 72% of prospective buyers consider economic uncertainty the biggest challenge to purchasing a home, while 67% worry it could affect their homebuying plans, the report added.

TSX Down 30 Points at Midday as Precious Metals Prices Fall

The Toronto Stock Exchange is down 30 points at midday in choppy trade, pulled lower by sliding precious metals prices.The materials sector is the worst performer, falling 4.5%.Info tech is the second worst performer, down 1%.Limiting losses are gains in telecoms and healthcare, up 1.7% and 1%, respectively.In stocks, Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD.TO) jumped 12% to a record high of C$92.33 after it reported a Q4 adjusted profit beat on Monday after trade.

TSX Closer: Index Ends Higher as Inflation Jumps, Oil Retreats

The Toronto Stock Exchange closed higher on Monday as investors weighed stronger-than-expected inflation data alongside easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed up 144.84 points, or 0.42%, to 35,002.18, with utilities and energy stocks providing the biggest lift.Energy led gainers, up 1.12%, with Industrials, Utilities, and Financial, up 0.24%, 0.36% and 0.34%, respectively. Telecom led decliners, down 1.87%, with Health Care, down 0.22%, Battery Metals Index, down 0.84%, Base Metals, down 0.65%, and Information and Technology, down 0.55%.In commodities, gold traded lower on Monday as the U.S. dollar climbed to its highest level in more than a year. The yellow metal for December delivery was last seen down 0.9% to US$4,206.80 per ounce.For oil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) closed at the lowest in more than three months on Monday on reports that talks between Iran and the United States are progressing, raising hopes the Strait of Hormuz could fully reopen and allow Persian Gulf energy exports to flow more freely, while the United States lifted sanctions on Iran's oil exports. WTI crude oil for July delivery closed down 2.3% to settle at US$74.82 per barrel, the lowest since March 4, while August Brent oil was last seen down 3.6% to US$77.70.Meanwhile, Statistics Canada reported stronger-than-expected inflation data for May, driven largely by higher energy costs.Canada's consumer price index (CPI) accelerated to 3.2% year over year in May, exceeding expectations, as higher energy prices contributed to inflation, Statistics Canada said Monday."Higher prices for gasoline continued to drive the acceleration in the headline CPI in May," StatsCan wrote in a statement, adding that excluding gasoline, CPI would be at 2.2% year over year. However, May's CPI was stronger than the 3.0% year-over-year consensus figure provided by Scotiabank Economics.Prices for food, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, travel tours and air transportation accelerated, while housing remained a drag, added StatsCan. Shelter inflation eased slightly in May, with prices rising 1.7% year over year following a 1.8% increase in April.May's CPI is the highest rate since September 2023, due to soaring gasoline prices, which rose 33% year over year as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, noted National Bank. "Despite the fact that inflation came in higher than expected in May, we are not overly concerned about the inflation situation in Canada," National Bank economists Matthieu Arseneau and Alexandra Ducharme wrote.Stripping out food and energy, inflation remained well contained at 1.6% year over year in May, compared with 1.5% a month earlier, the two economists added, emphasizing that core inflation remains "generally contained".Additionally, bond yields were steady to slightly higher after Canadian inflation accelerated on Monday, while TD Economics said the country's central bank is likely to remain on the sidelines for some time. "Apart from energy costs and some emerging tech price pressures inflation remains very well behaved in Canada, as a relatively soft demand backdrop leans against sellers raising prices," wrote TD Senior Economist Leslie Preston in a note. "We expect this to keep the Bank of Canada on the sidelines for quite some time."CIBC Economics similarly said the jump in inflation was unlikely to alter the Bank of Canada's policy outlook.Canadian inflation picked up again in May, but with oil and gasoline prices down from earlier highs, the latest reading is likely to mark the peak giving the central bank space to hold rates this year, CIBC said.The headline reading was "a couple of ticks" above the consensus, CIBC said. "Once again, gasoline was the main source of inflationary pressure, and excluding that one area the year-over-year rate of CPI would have been a much more modest 2.2%," CIBC's senior economist, Andrew Grantham, said in the note.In contrast, Scotiabank Economics maintained its forecast for Bank of Canada rate hikes beginning later this year.Scotiabank Economics said it continues to expect the Bank of Canada to begin a tightening cycle toward the end of the year, with additional rate increases likely in early 2027. In a note, the bank said its base-case forecast calls for a cumulative 75 basis points of rate hikes over the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027.Scotiabank noted that it has held this view since November, before the outbreak of the Iran conflict and the resulting surge in commodity prices.Separately, National Bank lowered its outlook for the Canadian economy following weaker-than-expected first-quarter growth.The weaker Q1 reading led National Bank of Canada Capital Markets to lower its 2026 growth forecast to 0.7% from 1.0%. The new estimate is based on the United States-Mexico-Canada, or USMCA, trade agreement being renewed, although trade uncertainty remains the main risk to the outlook, the bank wrote in a note.Canadian GDP shrank by 0.1% annualized in the first quarter, following a 1.0% drop in the previous quarter, putting the economy in a technical recession.Besides, Canada on Monday released a new Nuclear Energy Strategy aimed at boosting the country's nuclear industry, with plans to support up to 10 new reactor builds and increase exports of Canadian reactor technology, CTV News reported.The strategy focuses on four key areas: new reactor construction, nuclear exports, uranium and fuel development, and innovation in nuclear technologies, the report added.

TSX up 130 Points at Midday With Most Sectors Higher

The Toronto Stock Exchange is up 130 points at midday, with most sectors trending higher.The best performers are industrials, up 0.6%, and financials, up 0.5%.Materials and telecoms, each down 1%, are the worst performers.In other news, Canada's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.2% annualized in May, above an expected 3.0% increase, and up from 2.8% in April.The increase was due to higher gasoline prices. Excluding gasoline, CPI increased 2.2%, compared with April's 2.0%. CPI also rose 1.0% month over month in May, Statistics Canada said.

Canada's CPI Rises More Than Expected in May on Higher Gasoline Prices

Canada's consumer price index (CPI) accelerated to 3.2% year over year in May, exceeding expectations, as higher energy prices contributed to inflation, Statistics Canada said Monday."Higher prices for gasoline continued to drive the acceleration in the headline CPI in May," writes Statistics Canada in a statement, adding that excluding gasoline, CPI would be at 2.2% year over year.Energy and commodity prices have surged following the United States military attacks against Iran starting at the end of February and the subsequent limits on the transit of vessels in the key Strait of Hormuz.May's CPI was stronger than the 3.0% year-over-year consensus figure provided by Scotiabank Economics before the release of the data.Prices for food, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, travel tours and air transportation accelerated, while housing remained a drag, noted StatsCan.Shelter inflation eased slightly in May, with prices rising 1.7% year over year following a 1.8% increase in April. The homeowners' replacement cost index fell 2.5%, extending its streak of annual declines to 13 consecutive months, while other owned accommodation expenses, including real estate commissions, dropped 2.1% after falling 2.7% in April.However, on a year-over-year basis, price growth was unchanged for durable goods, at 1.9% in both April and May.

Canada's May CPI at 1.0% M/M on a Non-Seasonally Adjusted Basis, 0.5% M/M Seasonally Adjusted

Canada's CPI Excluding Gasoline at 2.2% Y/Y in May

Canada's May CPI Rose 3.2% Y/Y vs. 3.0% Consensus at Scotiabank

TSX Closer: Index Falls as Gold Prices Slide, Investors Assess Retail Sales Data

The Toronto Stock Exchange dropped on Friday as investors weighed fresh economic data pointing to resilient consumer spending and an improving housing market, while lower gold prices dampened sentiment.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 101.92 points, or 0.3%, to 34,857.34, as losses in battery metals, health care and utilities stocks outweighed gains in the energy, industrials and technology sectors.Energy led gainers, up 0.67%, with Industrials and Information and Technology, up 0.21% and 0.31%, respectively. Battery Metals Index led decliners, down 2.69%, with Health Care, down 0.70%, Utilities, down 0.41%, Telecom, down 0.24%, Base Metals, down 0.21%, and Financial, down 0.05%.In commodities, gold prices fell on Friday even as the dollar retreated from a 13-month high reached after the Federal Reserve indicated it may raise interest rates to curb rising inflation. Gold for July delivery was last seen down 1.7% to US$4,172.90 per ounce.Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher on Friday as the postponement of U.S.-Iran talks and renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon raised concerns about stability in the Middle East and the durability of a recently reached ceasefire. West Texas Intermediate crude oil for July delivery was last seen up 1.2% to US$77.54 per barrel, while August Brent oil was up 0.9% to US$80.57.On the economic front, fresh data showed Canadian consumer spending remained resilient in April and appeared to strengthen further in May. Canada's retail sales rose 0.5% month over month to $73.0 billion in April, in line with expectations, while preliminary data for May indicates a strengthening of consumer spending amid a surge in gasoline prices, according to the country's statistical agency.April's sales were up in five of nine subsectors, led by increases at gasoline stations and fuel vendors, noted Statistics Canada in a statement. The April retail sales increase was similar to the 0.6% month-over-month consensus gain figure provided by MUFG in a note earlier Friday. Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were down 0.7% month over month in April. StatsCan also provided an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 1.0% month over month in May.Retail sales surged in six provinces in April. The largest provincial increase in dollar terms was observed in Ontario (+0.5%), boosted by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.On Friday's retail sales data, CIBC Economics said rising fuel costs are weighing on Canadian household spending, with higher gasoline prices eroding real consumption through the spring.Overall, consumer spending appears to have stalled in Q2 after a strong start to the year, with elevated pump prices squeezing discretionary demand, according to CIBC. Still, the recent pullback in fuel prices and additional government support for households are likely to provide a cushion for spending later in the year, pointed out Andrew Grantham at CIBC.Canada's housing resale market is showing signs of recovery, with recent gains largely fueled by a resurgence in activity in the province of Ontario, the country's largest real estate market, said National Bank of Canada Capital Markets in a note. Home sales in Canada jumped by 5.5% from April to May, the second rise in a row following five months of decline, wrote the bank.This "robust" advance in sales was driven by increases in eight of the 10 provinces. Ontario, which saw an 8.8% month-over-month climb in sales, contributed the bulk of the national improvement, stated National Bank. According to market data, 71% of the increase in home sales recorded between March and May originated in Ontario.Besides, in a bid to boost the economy, Canada on Friday imposed a temporary 10% tariff on imports of canned vegetables, excluding shipments from the United States, according to a Reuters report. The measure is seen as a move aimed at supporting domestic producers facing increased competitive pressures.The tax takes effect immediately and will remain in place for up to 200 days. Imports from Mexico, Israel, Chile and certain developing countries are exempt under Canada's existing trade obligations, the Finance Department said.

TSX Down 8 Points at Midday in Choppy Trade, Most Sectors Trending Higher

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index is down 8 points at midday in choppy trade, but with most sectors trending higher.The best performers are the energy and financials sector, up 1.0% and 0.6%, respectively.The materials sector is down 0.2%, on lower gold prices.Canada's retail sales edged up 0.5% to C$73.0 billion in April, reports Statistic Canada. Sales, which rose in five of nine subsectors, were boosted by price increases at gasoline stations and fuel vendors, the agency said.However, core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, dipped 0.7% in April.In stocks, Alamos Gold (AGI.TO) was last seen down 17% to an 8-month low of C$42.41 after it lowered its Q2 production outlook. Alamos said production at Young-Davidson Mine was negatively affected by two seismic events, causing unplanned downtime due to power loss in May. Lower grades were also mined in the second quarter, it added.

TSX Closer: Index Edges Lower as Energy, Metals Stocks, Decline; TD Sees BoC on Hold Through Year-End

The Toronto Stock Exchange edged lower on Thursday as weakness in commodity-linked sectors, including energy, battery metals and base metals, outweighed gains in financial and industrial stocks, while investors assessed fresh economic data and the outlook for Bank of Canada monetary policy.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 155.85 points, or 0.44%, at 34,969.26 with sector finishing mixed.Health Care led gainers, up 2.27%, while Financial, Industrials, and Utilities, up 0.50%, 0.92%, and 0.40%, respectively. Battery Metals Index led decliners, down 2.90%, with Information and Technology, down 2.51%, Telecom, down 0.03%, Energy, down 1.87%, and Base Metals, down 1.31%.In commodities, gold traded lower Thursday as the dollar rose to its highest level in more than a year after the US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday. The precious metal, which has an inverse relationship with the greenback, was down US$135.90 to US$4,245.70 per ounce.Meanwhile, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed lower Thursday after Iran and the US signed a preliminary ceasefire deal that promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, freeing supply from Iran and the Persian Gulf nations that has been blocked since the war started on Feb. 28. WTI crude oil for July delivery closed down less than 0.1% to settle at US$76.60 per barrel, rising off session lows of US$73.58, while August Brent oil was up by less than 0.1% to US$79.27.Beyond commodity markets, investors also weighed the domestic economic outlook, with TD Economics arguing that subdued inflation pressures gives the Bank of Canada (BoC) room to remain on the sidelines and keep interest rates unchanged.The BoC is expected to remain on hold through the rest of the year, supported by an economy that continues to operate below capacity and an inflation backdrop that remains relatively contained, TD said Thursday. Unlike the United States, underlying inflation trends in Canada remain "well behaved", according to the bank. The BoC's preferred core inflation measures have averaged around 1.5% annualized over the past six months, holding at below target and suggesting limited underlying inflation momentum.TD also predicted that Canada's economy may see growth momentum return in the second half of the year after posting two consecutive quarterly contractions that raised recession worries. A large part of the Q1 0.1% year-over-year contraction was the pullback in government spending, which the bank doesn't expect to continue, it said in a report on Thursday. Household spending is also projected to continue after rising 1.5% quarter-over-quarter in the first three months."Looking ahead, we expect the economy to continue to gradually regain some momentum ... international trade data also supports the case for a rebound in April," TD said. Job gains in May reversed a large part of the losses posted earlier in the year and reduced the unemployment rate to 6.6%, the lender added.On the economic front, data released Thursday showed Canadian producer prices continued to climb in May, reflecting higher energy-related costs and ongoing disruptions to global supply chains.Prices of products manufactured in Canada, as measured by the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI), were up 1.2% month over month in May and increased 13.6% year over year, said the country's statistical agency on Thursday. The IPPI's May rise marked the fifth consecutive monthly increase. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continued to affect global commodity markets in the month, reflecting impacts on crude oil costs and supply chains since March, noted Statistics Canada in a statement.However, prices of raw materials purchased by manufacturers operating in Canada, as measured by the Raw Materials Price Index, increased 0.7% month over month and rose 33.4% year over year, said the Ottawa-based agency.Separate data released Thursday pointed to continued caution among Canadian businesses, with small-business confidence remaining in pessimistic territory for a second consecutive month.Small business confidence in Canada saw virtually no change in June, with the index remaining below the 50-point mark that for a second month in a row, said the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Barometer published on Thursday. A reading below 50 means business owners are expecting a weaker performance over the next three or 12 months.Fuel remains the top cost constraint for 66% of small businesses, while weak demand continues to weigh on more than half, or 53%, of the firms, CFIB said.Additionally, a new analysis from Scotiabank Economics suggested Canada's tighter immigration rules are having a pronounced impact on the international student population, with permit-holder numbers falling below government targets. The bank said the total stock of study permit and post-graduation work permit holders has dropped from a peak of more than 1 million in mid-2024 to just under 620,000 currently, reflecting stricter immigration measures."While the decline in the number of temporary work permit holders has been gradual since the introduction of annual temporary permit holder arrival caps, the pace at which the international student population has declined has been rapid, to say the least," senior economic analyst Anthony Bambokian said in the note.

TSX Down 123 Points at Midday With Most Sectors Lower

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index is down 123 points at midday with most sectors in the red, even as geopolitical risks recede as the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war on Wednesday.Energy, down near 2.5%, is the worst performer, as oil prices fell to a more than three-month low, followed by info tech, which is 2.0% lower.Healthcare and industrials, up 1.0% and 0.7%, respectively, are the biggest gainers.In company news, Toromont Industries (TIH.TO) jumped 17% to a record high of $240.69 after it said its power systems business received confirmation of $1.0 billion worth of firm orders. Delivery is expected to occur in 2027. and the orders are expected to require incremental capacity beyond 2026 levels, the company added.

TSX Closer: Index Drops as Financials, Battery Metals Rise; Canada Population, Housing Data Weaken

The Toronto Stock Exchange edged lower Wednesday as gains in financial and battery metals stocks offset broad-based weakness across most other sectors, while investors assessed fresh domestic economic data pointing to slower population growth and a cooling housing market.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 264.47 points, or 0.75%, at 35,125.11.Battery Metals Index led gainers, up 1.23%, while Financial closed up 0.54%. Industrials led decliners, down 2.12%, with Information and Technology, down 1.25%, Utilities, down 0.54%, Telecom, down 1.19%, Energy, down 1.55%, Base Metals, down 1.26%, and Health Care, down 1.14%.In commodities, Gold traded higher Wednesday even as the dollar rose after a report showed U.S. retail sales rose more than expected last month ahead of the latest interest rate decision coming from the Federal Reserve. Gold for July delivery was last seen up US$37.10 to US$4.391.50 per ounce.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed higher on Wednesday, rebounding from its lowest level in more than three months as details of a peace agreement between Iran and the United States emerged, while the International Energy Agency said inventories depleted by a closure of the Strait of Hormuz would return to surplus next year. WTI oil for July delivery closed up US$0.74 to settle at US$76.79 per barrel, rising off the lowest since March 4, while August Brent oil was last seen up US$0.41 to US$79.37.Meanwhile, domestic data released Wednesday pointed to a slowdown in Canada's population growth as immigration levels continued to ease.The population of Canada was estimated at 41,417,056 on April 1, a decrease of 0.1% from the previous quarter, said the country's statistical agency Wednesday. The country welcomed 83,149 permanent immigrants in Q1 2026. This represents a decline of 20.2% compared with the number of permanent immigrants welcomed in the same quarter of 2025 and is in line with the lower target established by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for the 2026 calendar year, Statistic Canada noted.Natural increase was negative (-155) in Q1, meaning there were more deaths than births in Canada during this quarter. By comparison, the natural increase in Q1 2025 was positive, at 983. Natural increase is usually low during the winter months, because there are typically fewer births and more deaths during the colder months.The housing sector also remained under pressure amid affordability challenges and softer demand conditions.Canada's new housing price index (NHPI) shed 0.3% month over month in May, said StatsCan on Wednesday. The NHPI is a monthly series that measures changes over time in the contractors' selling prices of new residential houses, where detailed specifications pertaining to each house remain the same between two consecutive periods. The survey covers dwelling types including new single homes, semi-detached homes and town homes (row or garden homes).Additionally, Scotiabank argued if a recovery is in sight after Canada's existing home sales rise in May. After having declined by nearly 11% seasonally adjusted from November 2025 to March 2026, Canada's housing sales have since recovered more than half of this decline with increases in April and May, said Scotiabank. In the latter month, national sales posted a 5.5% monthly rise, the strongest since October 2024, noted the bank.The bank added it must witness a sustained upward trend in housing demand and tightening in market conditions before it can see a recovery in the national house price, and especially in Ontario and British Columbia markets given their influence on national figures.Additionally, Bank of Montreal (BMO) said the international investors are big buyers of Canadian dollar bonds.International investors were big net buyers of Canadian securities in April to the tune of $46.9 billion, the lender noted. That's among the larger inflows over the past few years. Buying was focused in federal and provincial government debt, as well as corporate bonds, pointed out BMO. Equities saw a decent inflow too, while money markets had an outflow.The net inflow to federal government bonds was a record $27.7 billion in the month, while provincial bonds were just short of a record at $10.6 billion. Notably, April's net inflow to Canadian dollar-denominated bonds was a record $36.2 billion, added the bank.

TSX at New High at Midday With Materials The Biggest Gainer

The Toronto Stock Exchange is up near 220 points at midday, hitting another record high.The materials sector, boosted by stronger precious metals prices, is the best performer, up 1.65%, followed by info tech and financials, both up 1%.Energy is the worst performer, down 0.8%, followed by industrials, down 0.7%.In stocks, Gildan Activewear (GIL.TO), shares, which fell sharply after a short report on the company was released Tuesday afternoon, is up $4.61 to $75.00 at midday. The company reiterated its fiscal 2026 guidance in a statement.

TSX Up 40 Pts After Setting Fresh Record Close On Tuesday; Looking For Fifth Straight Win Today

Nasdaq 100 Futures Up 0.4% and S&P Futures Up Less Than 0.1%

S&P Futures Up Less Than 0.1%

TSX Closer: The Index Sets Fourth Record Close In June With Fourth Straight Win Day

The Toronto Stock Exchange recorded its fourth-straight session win on Tuesday, and with that also posted its second-straight record close, and fourth record finish for June already.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed up 113.94 points, or 0.3%, to 35,389.58, even with sectors mixed and with only the Battery Metals Index gaining more than 1%, rising 5%. In contrast, Energy was down near 2% amid lower oil prices, and Info Tech was down 1.3%According to FactSet the S&P/TSX going in to today's session was month to date up 1.46% and year to date up 3,562.88 points or 11.23%. Going in to today it was up 1,124.32 points or 3.29% over the prior three trading days.While optimism around strong equity-market fundamentals is likely the main reason for recent gains, investors also appear hopeful upcoming trade discussions between Canada and the United States won't be as bitter and contentious as some market observers fear.With every word on trade coming out of both countries closely examined for clues on what will eventually be agreed upon, Canada's CTV News is reporting Tuesday that as G7 leaders milled around the table ahead of a working lunch at their annual summit on Tuesday, cameras caught Prime Minister Mark Carney in a conversation about trade with U.S. President Trump. It noted Carney is seen leaning over the seated president, talking about Canada's deal with China to allow a limited number of Chinese electric vehicles into the country.According to the report, microphones caught part of the conversation in which the two leaders appear to be talking about the cap Canada has in place to allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made cars into Canada per year. "Less than 3% of our market, 49,000 cars," Carney can be heard telling Trump, before the camera pans to another section of the leaders' table."A cap," Carney can then be heard saying, when he's once again on camera, while making a hand gesture indicating a ceiling.As the president nods intently, Carney adds: "I thought you'd actually like that."Trump then responds: "That's good, I like it."Of commodities, gold was steady midafternoon Tuesday as inflation fears ebbed as oil prices eased after the United States and Iran reached an interim deal to end their war. Gold for July delivery was down US$0.90 to US$4,350.70 per ounce.West Texas Intermediate fell for a fourth-straight session on Tuesday, closing down 5.8% on expectations supply is on the rise as the market anticipates the weekend truce between Iran and the U.S will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and free tankers trapped in the Persian Gulf since the start of the conflict. WTI crude oil for July delivery closed down US$4.70 to settle at US$76.05 per barrel, the lowest since March 4, while August Brent oil was down US$4.46 to US$78.71.

TSX up 93 Points at Midday With Financials Leading Gains

The Toronto Stock Exchange is up 93 points at midday, boosted by the financials sector, which is up 0.9%.Limiting gains are declines in energy (-2.1%) pulled down by lower oil prices, and info tech (-1.7%).National Bank in its latest Monthly Equity Monitor for June, noted Canadian equities continue to outperform the domestic economy. Strength in energy and financials has supported the S&P/TSX, while the resulting wealth effect is helping sustain household consumption and offset some of the drag from Canada's ongoing population decline, the bank said.The bank is nevertheless redeploying some excess cash toward U.S. equities, while it remains below benchmark overall. "An improving geopolitical backdrop supports a modest increase in risk, though persistent inflation, a potentially less market-friendly Fed, and uncertainty surrounding USMCA negotiations justify maintaining a defensive stance," it said.Within Canadian equities, National Bank continues to favour energy, materials, and industrials, which are best positioned to benefit from resource development, reindustrialization, and Ottawa's more pragmatic electricity strategy, it added.In stocks, Groupe Dynamite (GRGD.TO) plunged 32% to a nine-month low with near two-million shares being traded after it reported a first-quarter revenue miss this morning, but adjusted earnings beat expectations. The fashion retailer also tweaked its fiscal 2026 guidance to lower the number of net new stores but raised its adjusted EBITDA margin.