BLBG: Canada Stocks Gain on Commodity Rally; Potash Rises on Upgrade
Canadian stocks rose, led by energy and materials producers, capping a weekly gain as copper rallied on record Chinese imports and gold and silver advanced on demand for a hedge against a declining U.S. dollar.
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. gained 3.1 percent after it was raised to a “buy” from “neutral” by Citigroup Inc. on the outlook for grain prices. Copper producer Teck Resources Ltd. added 4.8 percent. Petro-Canada increased 2.6 percent.
The Standard & Poor’s/TSX Composite Index gained 43.83 points, or 0.44 percent, to 9993.42 at 4:10 p.m. in Toronto. The benchmark gained 2.4 percent this week after a loss of 4.6 percent last week, the biggest such decline since March 6.
“We’re following what the commodity prices are doing,” said Chyanne Fickes, a portfolio manager at Stone Asset Management Ltd. in Toronto, which oversees C$650 million. “I think they will probably keep going higher. I’m convinced China will come back, and if it does it will help the commodity area.”
The Reuters/Jeffries CRB Index, an gauge of 19 raw materials, gained 3.3 percent this week after declining 2.9 percent the previous week.
Stockpiles of copper fell for a 12th day and China imports rose 7 percent as buyers replenished stockpiles needed for the country’s stimulus program. Copper producer First Quantum Minerals Ltd. added 3.3 percent to C$48.66. Teck added 73 cents to C$15.87.
Gold rose to a two-month high and silver climbed to a nine- month high as the dollar sank on speculation the U.S. will lose its AAA credit rating. Osisko Mining Corp., a gold exploration company, jumped 6.7 percent to C$6.67 as materials companies within the S&P/TSX gained 1.2 percent, the most among the 10 industry groups.
Fertilizer Demand
Potash Corp. increased C$3.78 to C$127.80 as wheat gained 3.3 percent. Rival Agrium Inc. also advanced, increasing 2 percent to C$56.58.
Crude gained 1 percent to close at $61.76 a barrel after reaching a six-month high earlier this week. Addax Petroleum Corp. had the biggest advance among oil companies, jumping 5.3 percent to C$36.13. Petro-Canada added C$1.10 to $44.22.
Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, led declining stocks and fell for a third day, sliding 2.4 percent to C$80.63.
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