Yahoo Finance 
TSX Stays Afloat by Noon
Canada's main stock index hovered below record highs on Monday, as U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that a preliminary trade deal with China would be signed "very shortly" offset worries about domestic growth.
The TSX Composite Index gained 18.22 points to greet noon Monday at 17,136.66
The Canadian dollar sank 0.15 cents to 75.91 cents U.S.
Gold stocks led the gainers Monday morning, as Barrick Gold climbed 32 cents, or 1.4%, to $23.25.
Materials also gained ground, as Fortuna Silver Mines leaped 29 cents, or 6.5%, to $4.73.
Aurora Cannabis slid 21 cents, or 7.1%, to $2.74, after the firm announced departure of chief corporate officer Cam Battley.
On the economic calendar, Statistics Canada reported that this country’s Gross Domestic Product edged down 0.1% in October, the first decline in eight months.
Goods-producing industries were down 0.5%, the second consecutive monthly decline. Services-producing industries were essentially unchanged as increases in most sectors compensated for declines in wholesale trade and retail trade.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange nosed up 2.53 points to 551.37
The 12 subgroups were evenly divided, as gold hiked 2.2%, materials strengthened 1.7%, and energy picked up 1.1%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed down most by health-care, down 1.4%, while information technology slid 0.6%, and real-estate lost 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks climbed on Monday to start the holiday week after China said it will cut import tariffs on a wide range of goods.
Read: The Next Billion Dollar Trend In Entertainment
The Dow Jones Industrials hung onto gains of 112.59 points to 28,567.68 – yet another all-time high.
The S&P 500 added 5.28 points to Friday’s all-time high, to 3,226.50. The benchmark is up 28.5% for 2019 through Friday, about one percentage point away from 2013's gain of 29.6%.
The NASDAQ popped 29.53 points to another all-time peak of 8,954.67
The U.S. stock market closes at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and is closed on Wednesday for Christmas. Thursday and Friday are regular trading days.
Shares of Boeing jumped about 2.7% after the company fired CEO Dennis Muilenburg amid the 737 Max crisis.
Investors cheered the news from China overnight as the country announced starting January 1, it will lower import tariffs on over 850 products ranging from frozen pork to some types of semiconductors. China is making efforts to boost imports amid a slowing economy and a trade war with the U.S.
On the data front, the U.S. Census Bureau said new home sales in November totaled 719,000, or 13,000 less than expected. Durable goods orders rose 0.1% last month, in line with estimates but down 1.1% from the same month a year ago.
Prices for the 10-Year U.S. Treasury sagged, raising yields to 1.93% from Friday’s 1.92%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices regained 11 cents to $60.58 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices recovered $5.80 at $1,486.70 U.S. an ounce.
