Canada’s main stock index plunged mid-Friday as the markets speculated the extent of U.S. interest rate cut in September after mixed jobs data.
The TSX Composite Index gave up early gains and slid 270.67 points, or 1.2%, Friday afternoon to 22,717.61
The Canadian dollar pointed downward 0.08 cents at 74. cents U.S.
In corporate news, Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings rejected Canada’s convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard’s $38.5 billion cash bid. Couche-Tard stock rose 65 cents to $76.06.
The capped communications sector rose 0.9%, supported by an 11-cent rise in Quebecor to $33.73.
Among individual stocks, Enghouse Systems sagged three cents to $28,97 after the software and services company posted better-than-expected third-quarter results.
Statistics Canada informs us that employment was little changed in August (+22,000; +0.1%) while the employment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 60.8%. The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.6%.
Later on this morning, the IVEY PMI will be released for August.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell back 7.37 points, or 1.3%, to 542.91.
All but one of the 12 TSX subgroups were on the minus side, with information technology plummeting 2.8%, while materials and gold flopped 2% each.
Only communications held out against the negative tide, eking up 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
The S&P 500 fell Friday, and headed for its worst week since March 2023, as investors assessed a weaker-than-expected August jobs report and ditched technology stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial index cratered 437.14 points, or 1.1%, to move into lunch hour Friday at 40,318.61.
The much-broader index reversed 96.2 points, or 1.8%, to 5,407.21.
The NASDAQ got pasted 437.51 points, or 2.6%, to 16,690.15.
Megacap tech stocks fell as investors dumped risk assets amid mounting worries about the health of the U.S. economy. Amazon and Alphabet slumped more than 3%, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms lost more than 1%. Broadcom shed 10% after forecasting in-line guidance. Other semiconductors fell in sympathy, with Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Marvell Technology last down more 5% each.
Fresh August jobs data showed further signs of a slowing labor market as growth fears mount on Wall Street. Nonfarm payrolls grew by 142,000, versus a 161,000 gain expected by economists polled by Dow Jones. However, the unemployment rate edged down to 4.2%, in line with expectations.
Friday’s data print comes on the heels of a rocky week for equity markets. The S&P 500 is on pace for a 4% decline and its worst week of the year, while the NASDAQ is down 5.6% and headed for its worst week since April. The 30-stock Dow has slumped 2.8%.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained ground, lowering yields to 3.72% from Thursday’s 3.73%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices faded $1.96 to $67.19 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices dropped $19.20 to $2,523.90.
