Loonie hits a high note

TORONTO — Expectations that Canada will reach a trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico pushed the loonie to a nearly three-month high.

The Canadian dollar traded up at 77.42 cents US compared with an average of 77.01 cents US on Monday.

That’s the highest level since early June.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 88.85 points at 16,355.54.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 14.38 points at 26,064.02. The S&P 500 index surpassed 2,900 for the first time and was up 0.78 points at 2,897.52 in later trading, while the Nasdaq composite also peaked and was up 12.14 points at 8,030.04.

The October crude contract was down 34 cents at US$68.53 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down 2.4 cents at US$2.85 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was down $1.60 at US$1,214.40 an ounce and the September copper contract was up 2.75 cents at US$2.74 a pound.

Some of the most active companies traded Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (16,355.54, down 88.85 points).

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB). Healthcare. Down 71 cents, or 7.68 per cent, to $8.54 on 28.4 million shares.

Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH). Healthcare. Down 42 cents, or 2.81 per cent, to $14.55 on 19.3 million shares.

Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED). Healthcare. Down $4.10, or 6.83 per cent, to $55.90 on 12.9 million shares.

Nemaska Lithium Inc. (TSX:NMX). Mining. Up three cents, or 3.8 per cent, to 82 cents on 7.8 million shares.

Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B) Industrials. Down nine cents, or two per cent, to $4.41 on 6 million shares.

Cronos Group Inc. (TSX:CRON). Healthcare. Down $1.26, or 8.05 per cent, to $14.39 on 5.2 million shares. Reporting major news: Thomson Reuters Corp. (TSX:TRI). Up $1.71 or 3.05 per cent, to $57.74 on 1.56 million shares. The company announced it is offering to buy back up to US$9 billion of its outstanding common shares, representing about 31 per cent of its issued and outstanding shares. The shares will be purchased through a “modified Dutch auction” that will see shareholders who wish to sell tender their shares. The company says it will pay between US$42 and US$47 per share.