TSX Near Record High as August Winds Down
TSX Near Record High as August Winds Down
Canada's main stock index traded near a record high on Friday, after weaker-than-expected domestic GDP data signaled potential interest rate cuts by the central bank.
The TSX Composite Index edged higher 16.29 points to pause for lunch at 28,451.09. So far this week, the index has gained 141 points, or 0.5%.
The Canadian dollar gathered 0.08 cents to 72.80 cents U.S.
On the economic front, Statistics Canada reported real gross domestic product declined 0.4% in the second quarter of 2025, following a 0.5% gain in the first quarter.
The contraction in the second quarter was driven by significant declines in the export of goods, as well as decreased business investment in machinery and equipment.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 2.37 points to 819.75. On the week, the index has perked 16 points, or 2%.
Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher by noon EDT, with gold soaring 1.8%, materials stronger 1.5%, and health-care haler 0.9%.
The five laggards were weighed most by information technology, down 1.3%, while energy tailed off 0.4%, and real-estate, off 0.3%.
The half-dozen laggards were weighed most by information technology, sagging1.2%, while real-estate lost 0.6%, and telecoms dipped 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks fell on Friday as investors took some money off the table into a long weekend following a new S&P 500 record and solid Nvidia earnings this week. New inflation data showed rising prices was still a risk heading into the new month.
The Dow Jones Industrials tumbled 174.87 points to 45,461.93.
The broader index lost 46.66 points to 6,455.20, though it’s still on pace to see its fourth winning month in a row.
The NASDAQ doffed 252.90 points, or 1.2%, to 21,455.31
Even with Friday’s losses, the indexes are on track to close out August with solid gains. The 30-stock Dow has logged a more than 3% advance in August, while the S&P 500 has tallied a near-2% advance. The tech-heavy NASDAQ has seen an August gain of almost 2%.
Core PCE, a key inflation measure watched by the Federal Reserve which excludes the costs of food and energy, increased 2.9% in July, in-line with expectations but an acceleration from the prior month and the highest level since February.
Nvidia was among Friday’s key laggards, as shares extended their recent losses with a fall of 3%. That comes after the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese e-ecommerce giant Alibaba has created a more advanced chip as it looks to fill the gap left by Nvidia running into issues around selling its chips in China.
U.S. shares of Alibaba were up 9%.
Nvidia finished slightly lower on Thursday after reporting strong 56% revenue growth for the prior quarter and largely validating the AI trade for investors.
Additionally, Caterpillar shares lost 2% after the company warned it could see a $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion hit this year due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Caterpillar’s not alone, as Gap also recently said that tariffs will weigh on profits. Those two updates could also be hurting sentiment Friday, Mayfield pointed out.
Prices for 10-year Treasury lost ground mid-Friday, lifting yields to 4.23% from Thursday’s 4.20%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices shed 48 cents to $64.12 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices gained $33.20 at $3,507.600 U.S. an ounce.
