Canada’s benchmark stock index was back in positive territory on Thursday following a steep drop the previous day, as U.S. economic reports pointed to continuing growth south of the border.
At midday in Toronto the S&P/TSX was up about 54 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 12,431.
The price of crude oil had fallen $1.10 US to $104.33 US a barrel in Toronto, while gold was down $1.10 US to $1,641.80 USan ounce.
The Canadian dollar was down 11 basis points to $1.0059 US.
In the U.S., markets were relatively flat despite two better-than-expected economic reports — initial jobless claims fell 14,000 to 351,000, the lowest level since 2008, and reports showed manufacturing in the New York region unexpectedly rose.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up about 12 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 13,206 at midday, and the Nasdaq composite was up 11 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 3,052.
In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei gained 0.72 per cent on Thursday, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.21 per cent. European markets were mixed, with London’s FTSE falling 0.27 per cent, while the CAC in Paris was just above flat with a gain of 0.04 per cent and Frankfurt’s DAX gained 0.56 per cent.
