Lithium Americas Takes Pounding
Canada’s main stock index held steady on Friday and was set for a sixth consecutive weekly gain, as investors anticipate more trade agreements amid easing tariff tension and softer U.S. inflation data.
The TSX Composite Index moved ahead 12.89 points to begin Friday at 25,910.37
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.19 cents at 71.47 cents U.S.
Investors cheered the 90-day pause in the U.S.-China tariff dispute, which reduces the global recession risks, and the bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and the U.K. a week ago, igniting hopes for potential trade deals with the U.S.
In corporate news, oil and gas producer Strathcona said late Thursday it plans to launch a $5.93-billion takeover bid for peer MEG Energy.
Strathcona shares were down 26 cents to $30.66, while those for MEG sprinted $3.44, or 16.2%, to $24.74.
Elsewhere, Lithium Americas fell 40 cents, or 9.1%, to $3.98, after the company filed for a mixed shelf offering of about $1 billion.
Markets in Canada will be closed Monday for Victoria Day.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada reported Friday that Canadian investors acquired $15.6 billion of foreign securities in March, mainly in U.S. bonds.
Meanwhile, foreign investors reduced their exposure to Canadian securities by $4.2 billion, marking a second consecutive monthly divestment.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange sliced ahead 3.36 points to 670.81.
All but three of the 12 subgroups lost ground. with materials each fading 1.6%, while consumer staples dipped 0.1%.
The three gainers were real-estate and telecoms, each up 0.5%, while consumer discretionary inched ahead 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 was little changed after the release of disappointing consumer sentiment data slowed the benchmark’s four-day winning streak. The benchmark is still on track for a sharp gain on the week after entering positive territory for the 2025.
The Dow Jones Industrials kept their momentum building 89.75 points to 42,412.50
The much-broader index 17.22 points to 5,934
The NASDAQ Composite dipped 18.14 points to 19,150.24.
Stocks have made a strong comeback since U.S. and Chinese officials earlier this week agreed on a 90-day truce in their tariff measures, which eased investors’ fears of escalating global trade tensions and rising risk to the economy.
Week to date, the S&P 500 is up 4.5%, and the Dow has gained 2.6%. The NASDAQ Composite has jumped more than 6% this week. Both the S&P 500 and Dow closed higher on Thursday, while the NASDAQ fell slightly.
A weaker-than-expected reading of consumer sentiment put a dent in overall investor enthusiasm on Friday. The University of Michigan’s survey of consumers fell to 50.8 in May, down from 52.2 in April, which is the second-lowest reading ever behind June 2022.
Consumer expectations for inflation over the next year jumped to 7.3% from 6.5% last month, as survey respondents continue to signal worry tied to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Friday could see an uptick in volatility on Wall Street due to a large amount of options contracts that are set to expire. Goldman Sachs estimated that more than $2.8 trillion of notional options exposure will expire on Friday, the biggest such number on record for a May trading day.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained a small measure of strength, lowering yields to 4.43% from Thursday’s 4.44%. Treasury prices and
yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices captured 92 cents to $61.84 U.S. a barrel.
Prices for gold turned lower $41.20 to $3,185.60