Canada’s benchmark equity index gained ground on Friday, buoyed by steady oil prices as uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continued ahead of planned US–Iran peace talks. Meanwhile, Statistics Canada reported modest job growth in March, with employment rising by just 14,000 and the unemployment rate holding steady at 6.7 per cent.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against imposing fees on oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, posting on Truth Social that such actions should stop immediately. Oil prices later retreated from session highs, while the S&P 500 advanced after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had agreed to enter negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible.”
| TSX | 33,695.76 | +218.05 |  |
| TSXV | 992.22 | -3.17 |  |
| CSE | 169.51 | +1.84 | |
| DJIA | 47,916.57 | -269.23 | |
| NASDAQ | 22,902.89 | +80.48 | |
| S&P 500 | 6,816.89 | -7.77 | |
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.26 cents US compared to 71.35 cents US on Thursday.
US crude futures traded US$2.24 lower at US$95.63 a barrel, and the Brent contract lost US$1.53 to US$94.39 a barrel.
The price of gold was down US$44.91 to US$4,748.38.
In world markets, the Nikkei was up 1,028.79 points to ¥56,924.11, the Hang Seng was up 141.14 points to HK$25,893.54, the FTSE was down 2.95 points to ₤10,600.53, and the DAX was down 3.04 points to €24,803.95.
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