Stocks Flat by Close

Equities in Toronto ended Tuesday’s session riding the breakeven point, settling just beneath it at the closing bell.

The TSX Composite bowed 5.41 points to 21,318.90.

The Canadian dollar slid 0.14 cents to 73.92 cents U.S.

Health-care led the gaining groups, Tilray picked up 12 cents, or 5.1%, to $2.47, while Bausch Health Companies progressed 25 cents, or 2.1%, to $12.41.

In communications, Cogeco Communications jumped $1.21, or 2.1%, to $60.36, while Quebecor grabbed 54 cents, or 1.8%, to $31.12.

In consumer stocks, Magna Intgernational hiked $2.05, or 2.9%, to $74.06, while Pet Value Holdings grew 59 cents, or 1.9%, to $31.46.

Gold weighed heaviest on the losing groups, Eldorado Gold sinking 53 cents, or 3.7%, to $13.99, while Alamos Gold dipped 31 cents, or 2%, to $15.57.

Bank of Montreal lost $4.52, or 3.6%, to $122.31, after it reported a fall in its first-quarter adjusted profit, as the bank set aside a large reserve against potential credit losses in a turbulent economy. Intact Financial, for its part, lost $7.01, or 3%, to $228.95.

In industrials, GFL Environmental shed $1.49, or 3%, to $48.19, while TFI International faltered $1.98, or 1%, to $201.00.

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange gained 5.49 points, or 1%, to 555.72.

Seven of the 12 subgroups were higher on the day, with health-care picking up 1.9%, while communications and consumer discretionary stocks each improved 0.7%.

The five laggards were weighed most by gold, down 0.6%, while financials ducked 0.4%, and industrials hesitated 0.2%.

ON WALLSTREET

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The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite ended Tuesday’s session with modest gains as investors prepared for key inflation data to be released later this week.

The Dow Jones Industrials came off their lows of the day, but remained negative 96.82 points before Tuesday’s close at 38,972.41.

The S&P 500 poked 8.65 points to 5,078.18.

The NASDAQ index nosed up 59.05 points to 16,075.30.

Retail giant Macy’s advanced 3.4% after announcing it would close around 150 of its struggling stores following a revenue miss in the prior quarter. Lowe’s gained 1.7% after posting an earnings beat. Zoom Video leaped 8% and Hims & Hers Health rose 31%, following earnings reports that exceeded Wall Street expectations.

Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce released on Tuesday showed that orders for long-lasting goods declined more than expected in January, with the leading factor being a large drop in demand for transportation.

The latest consumer confidence numbers also fell on worries regarding a potential labor market slowdown and polarized political landscape, according to a Conference Board gauge released Tuesday. The board’s Consumer Confidence Index declined to 106.7, which was lower than
the downwardly revised 110.9 in January and below the Dow Jones estimate for 115.1.

Prices for the 10-year Treasury hesitated, raising yields to 4.31% from Monday’s 4.28%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices gained $1,07 to $78.65 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices gained 50 cents to $2,039.40.