Canada’s main stock index opened lower on Friday, hurt by technology shares, while Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments led to increased bets for fewer U.S. interest-rate cuts next year.
The TSX put the brakes on its recent rally and actually dropped 74.38 points to begin Friday at 24,975.29.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.14 cents to 70.97 cents U.S.
In corporate news, space company MDA Space reported its third-quarter results and forecast annual revenue above estimates. MDA shares shed 72 cents, or 2.8%, to $25.13.
In matters economic, Statistics Canada said manufacturing sales declined 0.5% in September, mainly on lower sales of petroleum and coal products as well as lower production of aerospace products and parts. Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) rose 0.8% to $82.3 billion in September.
New motor vehicle sales totaled 168,500 in September, slightly better than August’s 166,000.
The Canadian Real Estate Association said MLS listings increased 7.7% on a month-over-month basis in October, reaching its highest level since April 2022.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange slipped 2.2 points to 591.52.
All but three of the 12 subgroups lost ground, weighed most by information technology and communications, each off 0.8%, and industrials, shedding 0.7%.
The three gainers were gold, shinier 1.2%, materials, ahead 0.9%, and energy, rumbling 0.4%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks opened lower on Friday as the post-election rally wavered and the Federal Reserve signaled it was in no hurry to keep cutting interest rates.
The Dow Jones Industrials fell 203.9 points to 43,456.96.
The S&P 500 dived 67.81 points, or 1.1%, to 5,881.19.
The NASDAQ Composite slid 356.31 points, or 1.9%, to 18,742.25.
Pharmaceutical stocks were under pressure after incoming President Donald Trump said he planned to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department Health and Human Services.
Shares of Applied Materials, which makes equipment for the chip industry, fell more than 7% after the company gave weak guidance for revenue in the current quarter. Domino’s Pizza jumped nearly 2% after Berkshire Hathaway announced a new stake in the pizza chain.
Stocks took a leg down Thursday afternoon after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said during an event in Dallas that the central bank wasn’t “in a hurry” to cut interest rates
Prices for the 10-year Treasury lost ground, pushing yields up to 4.47% from Thursday’s 4.45%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices sagged 46 cents to $68.24 U.S. a barrel.
Prices for gold eased 50 cents an ounce to $2,572.40 U.S.
