Canada stocks-bank stocks, dismal retail sales data drive TSX lower
Canada’s main stock index fell on Friday, pressured by weakness in energy and bank stocks, while data showed domestic retail sales fell in January further denting sentiment. The energy sector dropped 0.8 percent as a new wave of coronavirus infections across Europe triggered fresh lockdowns, while the financials sector slipped 0.7 percent. Domestic retail sales fell 1.1 percent to C$52.55 billion ($42.07 billion) in January compared with the previous month, as provincial governments began re-introducing health restrictions to combat resurgence in coronavirus cases, Statistics Canada said. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was down 65.17 points, or 0.35 percent, at 18,771.3. Miner Teck Resources Ltd fell 3.4 percent, the most on the TSX, followed by fuel-cell products maker Ballard Power Systems Inc, down 3.1 percent. On the TSX, 85 issues advanced, while 127 issues declined in a 1.49-to-1 ratio favoring decliners, with 173.81 million shares traded. The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were gold miners Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd and NovaGold Resources Inc. , both up 2.4 percent. The most heavily traded shares by volume were Toronto-Dominion Bank, Enbridge Inc, and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. The TSX posted no new 52-week high or low. Across Canadian issues, there were 15 new 52-week highs and two new lows, with total volume of 197.52 million shares.
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Bulls return to D-St after 6 days; Sensex up 642 pts
Images on investors’ trading screens turned around 180 degrees by the end of the session on Friday as bulls fought back to lift indices over a percent higher. A drop in the US Treasury yield and a GDP growth upgrade by Moody’s for India helped the markets snap 5-day losing streak. Tracking sluggishness in the global markets, the domestic equity markets opened in a sea of red with the frontline indices dropping over a percent. The dip was, however, quickly bought-into, pushing markets in the positive territory in less than 120 minutes into the trade. Mood in the global markets changed after the US Treasury yields slipped to 1.5 percent from Thursday’s high of 1.74 percent. Back home, Moody’s Analytics said India’s economy is likely to grow by 12 percent in CY2021 following a 7.1 percent contraction last year as near-term prospects have turned more favourable. Consequently, bulls reigned on Dalal Street for the first time in six days riding on the back of FMCG and metal counters. Both, the Nifty FMCG and Metal indices, ended over 2 percent higher each, followed by gains in the Nifty Pharma and PSU Bank indices, up over 1 percent. Other indices settled with less than a percent gains, while the Nifty Realty index ended in the red, down 0.7 percent.
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Japan stocks lower at close of trade; Nikkei 225 down 1.41pc
Japan stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Railway & Bus and Real Estate sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 1.41 percent. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2167 to 1384 and 213 ended unchanged. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was unchanged 0 percent to 21.58 a new 1-month low. Crude oil for April delivery was up 0.33 percent or 0.20 to $60.20 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in May rose 0.28 percent or 0.18 to hit $63.46 a barrel, while the April Gold Futures contract rose 0.62 percent or 10.75 to trade at $1743.25 a troy ounce. USD/JPY was down 0.12 percent to 108.75, while EUR/JPY fell 0.00 percent to 129.72. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.16 percent at 91.720.
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France stocks lower at close of trade; CAC 40 down 1.07pc
France stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Foods & Drugs, Gas & Water and General Financial sectors led shares lower. At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 declined 1.07 percent, while the SBF 120 index unchanged 0 percent. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 385 to 199 and 77 ended unchanged. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged 0 percent to 18.96 a new 3-months low. Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.55 percent or 9.50 to $1742.00 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April rose 2.47 percent or 1.48 to hit $61.48 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract rose 2.05 percent or 1.30 to trade at $64.58 a barrel. EUR/USD was down 0.08percent to 1.1905, while EUR/GBP rose 0.36percent to 0.8588. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.09percent at 91.957.
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FTSE 100 slips before BOE report
London’s FTSE 100 fell on Thursday, dragged down by consumer staples and industrials stocks, while investors looked to the Bank of England’s policy meeting for forecasts around the pace of Britain’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was down 0.2 percent, with consumer staples stocks including Unilever Plc, Diageo Plc and Reckitt Benckiser Group shedding between 0.5 percent and 1.1 percent. Industrials stocks, mainly Intertek Group, Bunzl plc and BAE Systems, were also among the biggest decliners. The domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index gained 0.1 percent, led by real estate stocks. Gambling group 888 Holdings rose 5.8 percent, after posting higher annual adjusted core earnings and signalling strong momentum in 2021 so far, as more people shifted to online betting during coronavirus restrictions. Drinks maker Fever-Tree fell 8.6 percent, despite a better 2021 revenue forecast with at-home drinking catching on and sales at lockdown-hit bars and restaurants expected to gradually gain momentum. British 10-year gilt yield rose to a one-year high of 0.876 percent as the market opened.