Equities in Toronto finished only slightly downward Wednesday, showing little effects of the Bank of Canada’s latest rate announcement.
The TSX Composite Index retreated 1.69 points to finish Wednesday at 23,040.76.
The Canadian dollar recovered 0.21 cents at 74.04 cents U.S.
Investment fund Brookfield is reportedly close to selling renewable energy firm Saeta Yields to Masdar of the United Arab Emirates. Brookfield shares dropped 72 cents to $64.72.
In real-estate, units of Interrent REIT gained 40 cents, or 3.2%, to $13.02, while those for Storagevault picked up 13 cents, or 2.7%, to $4.99.
In health-care stocks, Bausch Health Companies rallied 18 cents, or 2.2%, to $8.41, supporting gains in the index. Kits Eyecare’s shares rose 40 cents, or 3.7%, to $11.30, after the eyecare provider revised its third-quarter revenue guidance upwards. Elsewhere, Sienna Senior Living jumped 30 cents, or 1.9%, to $16.00.
In communications, BCE gathered 61 cents, or 1.3%, to $48.48. while TELUS grew 26 cents, or 1.2%, to $22.16.
Among energy concerns, Prairiesky Royalties ditched 85 cents, or 3.1%, to $27.68, while Secure Snergy Systems fell 28 cents, or 2.3%, to $11.70.
In gold, Torex Gold flouondered $1.08 or 4.3%, to 424.71, while Novagold capsized 13 cents, or 2.4%, to $5.26
In materials, First Quantum Minerals retreated 43 cents, or 2.9%, to $14.20, while Dundee Precious Metals slipped 20 cents, or 1.6%, to $12.55.
On the economic slate, Canada’s merchandise imports decreased 1.7% in July, while exports fell 0.4%. Consequently, Canada’s merchandise trade balance with the world moved from a revised deficit of $179 million in June to a surplus of $684 million in July.
And as expected, the Bank of Canada lowered its trendsetting rate, another quarter point to 4.25%, its third straight cut.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell 2.68 points to 552.49.
Eight 12 subgroups were in the positive range, with real-estate sprinting 1.3%, Health-care up 1.2%, and communications, up 0.8%
The four laggards were weighed by energy, sliding 1.8%, gold, down 1.1%, and materials off 0.6%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite fell for a second straight session in a lackluster start to September.
The Dow Jones Industrial index regained 38.04 points, to conclude Wednesday at 41,974.97.
The S&P 500 sagged 8.86 points to 5,520.07.
The NASDAQ dropped 52 points to 17,084.30.
Nvidia fell 1.7% following a Bloomberg report that the U.S. Justice Department sent subpoenas to the chipmaker. The move comes after
Nvidia tumbled more than 9% Tuesday amid a broader pullback in semiconductors.
Some megacap technology and chip stocks regained their footing Wednesday, with Advanced Micro Devices and Tesla rallying about 3% and 4%, respectively. Meta Platforms, Marvell Technology, Broadcom and Qualcomm edged higher.
Corporate earnings season is largely behind investors, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise set to post earnings after the close. Dollar Tree shed nearly 19% after slashing its guidance.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained ground, lowering yields to 3.76% from Tuesday’s 3.84%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices dipped $1.09 to $69.25 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices fought their way up $3.50 to $2,526.50.
