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 1.0069 0.3968 0.2039 1.5950 0.1649 0.01984 0.000094 0.01218 0.3307 0.06912 0.9384 0.1649 0.3970 0.02267 0.3447 0.9814 0.10850 0.001204 0.1565 1.3623 0.04405 0.04122 0.3383 1.7884 1.2927 0.000057

Financial highlights

Highlights at the close Thursday at world financial market trading. Stocks:

S&P/TSX Composite Index – 15,538.70, up 66.09 points Dow – 24,895.21, up 93.85 points S&P 500 - 2,738.97, up 12.17 points

Nasdaq – 7,427.95, up 31.30 points

Currencies:

Cdn – 77.36 cents US, up 0.12 of a cent

Pound – C$1.7884, down 0.96 of a cent

Euro – C$1.5950, down 1.12 cents Euro – US$1.2339, down 0.67 of a cent

Oil futures:

US$60.12, down $1.03

(April contract)

Gold futures:

US$1,321.70 per oz., down $5.90 (April contract)

Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman:

$22.181 oz., down 3.8 cents $713.12 kg., down $1.22

The markets today

TORONTO (CP) — Markets on both sides of the border saw moderate gains Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump announced broad tariffs on steel and aluminum that exempted Canada and Mexico.

The president signed proclamations slapping tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum that go into effect for the rest of the world in 15 days. Canada and Mexico are to be excluded from the tariffs for now but uncertainty remains on how firm that exemption is as NAFTA negotiations continue. Thursday’s positive finish in North American markets was preceded by mild swings throughout the day as investors waited to see the details and wider implications of the tariffs, said Anish Chopra, managing director with Portfolio Management Corp. in Toronto. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 66.09 points at 15,538.70, with the industrials and financials sectors offsetting losses in mining stocks.

The April gold contract was down US$5.90 to US$1,321.70 an ounce and the May copper contract was down six cents to US$3.08 a pound.

Energy also weighed on the commodity-heavy TSX, as oil prices saw sharp losses for a second day in a row after the U.S. Energy Department reported Wednesday that American oil production rose last week – a move that thwarts ongoing efforts by OPEC to tighten global supplies and support prices.

The April crude contract was down US$1.03 to US$60.12 per barrel.