Canada’s lead stock index slipped on Monday amid fears that the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran could fall apart. Tensions rose after the US seized an Iranian vessel, prompting Tehran to threaten retaliation. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that Canada’s historically close relationship with the United States—once an advantage—has increasingly become a liability. In a video address, Carney noted that Canada has little control over instability originating south of the border and cannot shape its long-term future around the hope that tensions there will suddenly subside.
Meanwhile, the United States has continued its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has alternately eased and reinstated restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also announced it would skip a second round of negotiations that Washington had hoped to begin before the ceasefire expires tomorrow, on April 21. US President Donald Trump said Sunday that American forces had fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, following Iran’s refusal to take part in another US-backed peace meeting scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
| TSX | 34,360.03 | +13.74 |  |
| TSXV | 1,064.58 | +9.67 | |
| CSE | 178.28 | +2.23 | |
| DJIA | 49,442.56 | -4.87 |  |
| NASDAQ | 24,404.39 | -64.09 | |
| S&P 500 | 7,109.14 | -16.92 | |
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.28 cents US compared to 73.08 cents US on Friday.
US crude futures traded US$4.93 higher at US$88.78 a barrel, and the Brent contract rose US$4.93 to US$95.31 a barrel.
The price of gold was up US$38.18 to US$4,809.64.
In world markets, the Nikkei was up 348.99 points to ¥58,824.89, the Hang Seng was up 200.74 points to HK$26,361.07, the FTSE was down 58.55 points to ₤10,609.08, and the DAX was down 284.44 points to €24,417.80.
