Materials pull TSX higher amid slowdown fears

Reuters

Published Nov 14, 2019 10:18

Materials pull TSX higher amid slowdown fears

(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index opened marginally higher on Thursday, led by gains in materials as gold prices rose on fears of a global slowdown, spurred by weak economic data.

** Data on Thursday showed China's factory output growth slowed significantly more than expected in October; Germany barely avoided a recession, and Japan's economy ground to a near standstill.

** At 09:42 a.m. ET (14:42 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 6.18 points, or 0.07%, at 16,963.78.

** Seven of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, led by the materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners, as gold futures rose 0.5% to $1,469 an ounce.

** The energy sector climbed 0.4% as U.S. crude prices were up 0.7% a barrel, while Brent crude added 0.9%. [O/R]

** The financials sector rose marginally, while industrials sector was mostly flat.

** The biggest drag on the index were healthcare shares, down 4% with Canopy Growth Corp slipping the most at 13.6%.

** On the TSX, 159 issues were higher, while 64 issues declined for a 2.48-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 13.89 million shares traded.

** The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Cineplex Inc (TO:CGX) and Freehold Royalties Ltd (TO:FRU).

** The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis (TO:ACB), Canopy Growth Co (TO:WEED) and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings (TO:TGOD).

** The TSX posted six new 52-week highs and five new lows.

** Across all Canadian issues there were 28 new 52-week highs and 18 new lows, with total volume of 23.69 million shares.