TSX rises as BoC holds rates, raises Q2 growth forecast

10 Jul, 2019

Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday, as the Bank of Canada held interest rates steady and raised its second-quarter growth forecast as expected, while highlighting the risks that trade wars posed to the global economy.

* At 10:06 a.m. ET (1406 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index was up 88.19 points, or 0.53%, at 16,633.4.

* The Canadian central bank, which has sat on the sidelines since last October amid an economic slowdown, maintained its key overnight rate at 1.75% and made no mention of future rate moves.

* The bank raised its second-quarter annualized growth forecast to 2.3% from 1.3%, in part due to temporary factors such as the reversal of weather-related softness and a surge in oil-exports.

* The financials sector gained 0.4%.

* Eight of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, led by the energy sector climbed 2.3%.

* The as US crude prices were up 3%, while Brent crude added 2.8%.

* Oil prices rose after industry data showed US inventories fell more than expected and as major US producers evacuated rigs in the Gulf of Mexico before a storm.

 

* On the TSX, 165 issues were higher, while 63 issues declined for a 2.62-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 34.87 million shares traded.

* The top percentage gainers on the TSX were Gran Tierra Energy, which jumped 7.8% after and operations update followed by shares of Torex Gold Resources, which rose 6.1%.

* Canntrust Holdings fell 7.2%, the most on the TSX, followed by shares of Interfor Corp, down 2%.

* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Encana Corp , Street Capital Group and Canntrust Holdings.

* The TSX posted 12 new 52-week highs and one new low.

* Across all Canadian issues there were 39 new 52-week highs and six new lows, with total volume of 57.94 million shares.

Copyright Reuters, 2019

Read Comments