Canada Stocks: TSX ends lower as bond yields rise, index snaps weekly losing streak
CANADA STOCKS-TSX ends lower as bond yields rise, index snaps weekly losing streak Updates at market close
By Utkarsh Hathi and Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index edged lower on Friday, weighed by declines for energy and industrial shares, as long-term borrowing costs increased, but the index still posted a weekly gain.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index .GSPTSE ended down 69.58 points, or 0.2%, at 35,804.86. For the week, the index was up 0.3%, after four straight weekly declines.
"Markets remain on eggshells thanks to rising oil prices and bond yields and we are not out of the woods when it comes to the volatility that typically arises during September and October," said Rick Gardner, chief investment officer at RGA Investments.
US Treasury yields rose as investors evaluated the outlook for interest rates following the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in three years on Wednesday. Investors worry that elevated long-term rates could reduce stock market valuations.
U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 gave back some recent gains, settling 1.6% lower at $100.30 a barrel, as markets assessed Saudi supply alongside concerns about a widening Middle East conflict.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will let businesses immediately write off the cost of most new capital investments for tax purposes.
"Despite the lofty investment goals, markets were grounded by the mundane reality that the Bank of Canada may also have its tightening hand forced by persistently strong energy prices - although trade friction and uncertainty offer a strong counterpoint for now," Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said in note.
Investors see a 65% chance the Bank of Canada would raise interest rates next month. 0#CADIRPR
The pullback in oil prices weighed on the energy sector .SPTTEN, which ended 0.7% lower.
Shares of Thomson Reuters TRI.TO lost 5%. OpenAI on Thursday released a legal industry-focused version of its latest AI technology, GPT-6 Astra.
Industrials fell 0.9% and consumer staples .GSPTTCS ended 1.2% lower.
Just two of 10 major sectors notched gains, including heavily weighted financials .SPTTFS. The sector was up 0.2%.
(Reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto and Darshan Kumar and Utkarsh Hathi in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Alistair Bell)
((fergal.smith@thomsonreuters.com; +1 647 480 7446))
Recent news on Thomson Reuters
See all newsBrief: Thomson Reuters Corp - Continues To Expect Global Print Deal To Be 60 – 70 Basis Points Accretive To Annual Organic Revenue Growth
Brief: Thomson Reuters & KKR Complete Joint Venture For Global Print Business
Unsealed opinion shows why Thomson Reuters won landmark AI fair-use ruling (updated)
Unsealed opinion shows why Thomson Reuters won landmark AI fair-use ruling
Canada Stocks: TSX futures edge higher ahead of US inflation data