MONEY IN BRIEF
Currencies
These are indicative wholesale rates for foreign currency provided by the Bank of Canada on Thursday. Quotations in Canadian funds.
Australia dollar
Brazil real
China renminbi
Euro
Hong Kong dollar
India rupee
Indonesia rupiah
Japan yen
Malaysia ringgit
Mexico peso
N.Z. dollar
Norway krone
Peruvian new sol
Russia rouble
Saudi riyal
Singapore dollar
South Africa rand
South Korean won Sweden krona Switzerland franc Taiwanese dollar Thailand baht
Turkey lira
U.K. pound
U.S. dollar
Vietnam dong 0.9950 0.3947 0.2022 1.5683 0.1642 0.01971 0.000093 0.01204 0.3271 0.06808 0.9298 0.1630 0.3937 0.02261 0.3427 0.9691 0.10790 0.001185 0.1552 1.3584 0.04380 0.04073 0.3371 1.7666 1.2851 0.000056
Financial highlights
Highlights at the close Thursday at world financial market trading. Stocks:
S&P/TSX Composite Index – 15,393.95, down 48.73 points Dow – 24,608.98, down 420.22 points
S&P 500 – 2,677.67, down 36.16 points
Nasdaq – 7,180.56, down 92.45 points
Currencies:
Cdn – 77.81 cents US, down 0.26 of a cent
Pound – C$1.7666, down 0.01 of a cent
Euro – C$1.5683, up 0.45 of a cent Euro – US$1.2204, down 0.05 of a cent
Oil futures:
US$60.99, down 65 cents (April contract)
Gold futures:
US$1,305.20 per oz., down $12.70 (April contract)
Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman:
$21.847 oz., down 4.7 cents $702.38 kg., down $1.51
The markets today
TORONTO (CP) — Canada’s main stock index fell moderately as stocks south of the border dropped sharply amid talk of tariffs on steel and aluminum by U.S. President Donald Trump. The president told industry executives Thursday he would impose a tariff of 25 per cent on imported steel and 10 per cent on aluminum, sparking fears the move will lead to other countries putting up trade barriers that will hurt the global economy. The head of the European Commission said the region would respond in kind. “Everyone’s afraid of these protection-type of events, like this announcement, that can only lead to a trade war with other countries,” said Allan Small, a senior investment adviser at HollisWealth. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 420.22 points to 24,608.98. The S&P 500 index was down 36.16 points to 2,677.67 and the Nasdaq composite index was down 92.45 points to 7,180.56. In Canada, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 48.73 points to 15,393.95 in a largely broad-based decline. Gains in the health-care sector which include the volatile marijuana stocks helped lessen downward pressure on the TSX as did strong earnings from Toronto-Dominion Bank. Shares of TD were up 92 cents, or 1.24 per cent, to $74.92 after its first-quarter profits beat market expectations, despite a hefty charge due to U.S. tax reform, to close out another strong earnings season for Canada’s biggest lenders.