(Stock image generated with AI.)

Canada’s primary stock index extended its decline on Friday, with industrial and financial stocks leading the losses as investors evaluated the fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, along with a series of economic reports from both Canada and the United States.

Equities were already under pressure after a previous down session, driven by a spike in oil prices. The jump came after Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared that the Strait of Hormuz—a key global shipping corridor—should remain closed as a “tool to pressure the enemy.” Traffic through the strait has been largely stalled since US and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran in late February, leaving markets on edge as they await developments. Investors are also digesting fresh US inflation data from the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure. Meanwhile, the recent surge in oil prices pulled back.

TSX32,541.93-298.67TSX
TSXV1,018.11-28.94TSXV
CSE175.58+0.90CSE
DJIA46,558.47-119.38DJIA
NASDAQ22,105.36-206.62NASDAQ
S&P 5006,632.19-40.43S&P 500

The Canadian dollar traded for 72.81 cents US compared to 73.35 cents US on Thursday.

US crude futures traded US$3.21 higher at US$98.94 a barrel, and the Brent contract rose US$2.97 to US$103.40 a barrel.

The price of gold was down US$99.29 to US$5,018.89.

In world markets, the Nikkei was down 633.35 points to ¥53,819.61, the Hang Seng was down 251.16 points to HK$25,465.60, the FTSE was down 44.00 points to ₤10,261.15, and the DAX was down 142.36 points to €23,447.29.


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