Small Gains for TSX in Early Going

Equities in Canada’s largest centre enjoyed but marginal gains on Tuesday as Restaurant Brands International's quarterly profit miss pulled the consumer discretionary sector lower, while investors also parsed data showing U.S. inflation was still high but slowing.

The TSX took on 36.3 points to kick off Tuesday at 20,738.53.

The Canadian dollar gained 0.09 cents to 75.10 cents U.S.

Restaurant Brands named Joshua Kobza its new chief executive officer effective March 1, and reported fourth-quarter revenue slightly above analysts' average estimate, boosted by strong demand at three of its main restaurant chains. Shares in the Tim Hortons parent slumped $3.39, or 3.7%, to $87.98.

TC Energy beat market estimates for fourth-quarter profit, as robust demand for energy boosted the North American pipeline operator's earnings from transporting natural gas. TC shares gathered 33 cents to $55.97.

Algoma Steel Group posted a decline in revenue and net income in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2023, due to a decrease in production volume and higher production costs. Algoma popped 72 cents, or 6.6%, to $11.58.

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange added 2.05 points to 618.46.

Eight of the 12 subgroups were gainers in the first hour, with information technology zooming 1.2%, health-care haler 1.1%, and energy 0.9% more energetic.

The four laggards were weighed most by consumer discretionary stocks, down 0.8%, while consumer staples and gold each fell 0.2%.

ON WALLSTREET

Stocks fell Tuesday after the January consumer price index report showed that inflation grew at a 6.4% annual rate, slightly higher than expected.

The Dow Jones Industrials flopped 139.98 points to open for business Tuesday at 34,105.95.

The S&P 500 slid 14.45 points to 4,122.84.

The NASDAQ Composite deleted 33.62 points to 11,858.17.

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Shares of Palantir surged 11% after it reported its first-ever profitable quarter. Zoetis, an animal pharmaceutical company, jumped 5% after a solid earnings report that matched analyst expectations.

A stubbornly high inflation reading sent stocks sliding. The consumer price index rose 0.5% for the month, which translated to an annual gain of 6.4%. That was slightly higher than economist estimates of the basket of goods and services rising 0.4% on the month and 6.2% on the year, according to a survey by Dow Jones.

In addition, the December report was revised to show a slight gain instead of a decline.

Before the number was released, JPMorgan’s trading desk predicted that an annual increase of 6.4% to 6.5% would trigger an S&P 500 loss of about 1.5% on Tuesday. It was better than worst fears of a greater than 6.5% annual increase, an acceleration in inflation that would have triggered an S&P 500 decline of 2.5%, JPMorgan predicted.

Beyond the CPI, investors will also be watching for earnings for insights into the health of the consumer. Kraft Heinz, Boston Beer and DoorDash are all scheduled to report this week.

Prices for the 10-year Treasury fell, raising yields to 3.75% from Monday’s 3.71%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices lost 80 cents to $79.34 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices recovered eight dollars to $1,871.50 U.S. an ounce.