Canada’s main stock index moved higher for the seventh straight session on Thursday as investors looked ahead to crucial employment figures that could impact the Bank of Canada’s upcoming interest rate decision. Gains in technology and financial stocks helped lift the TSX, but declines in the mining and health care sectors limited the overall advance.
US markets posted modest gains as traders assessed fresh jobs data. The previous session saw Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) boost both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Composite. Earlier in the day, the ADP private payrolls report was released, with economists surveyed by Dow Jones anticipating 75,000 new jobs in August—down from 104,000 in July. The Labor Department reported initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 237,000 last week, 7,000 more than forecast by economists. These reports precede Friday’s key employment data, which could shape the short-term direction of a stock market that remains cautious.
| TSX | 28,915.89 | +164.53 |  |
| TSXV | 844.22 | -2.85 |  |
| CSE | 154.76 | -1.05 | |
| DJIA | 45,621.29 | +350.06 | |
| NASDAQ | 21,707.69 | +209.97 | |
| S&P 500 | 6,502.08 | +53.82 | |
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.33 cents US compared to 72.78 cents US on Wednesday.
US crude futures traded $0.62 lower at US$63.35 a barrel, and the Brent contract lost $0.75 to US$66.85 a barrel.
The price of gold was down US$20.95 to US$3,550.93.
In world markets, the Nikkei was up 641.38 points to ¥42,580.27, the Hang Seng was down 284.92 points to HK$25,058.51, the FTSE was up 38.88 points to ₤9,216.87, and the DAX was up 175.53 points to €24,770.33.
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