MONEY IN BRIEF

Currencies

These are indicative wholesale rates for foreign currency provided by the Bank of Canada on Wednesday. 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 0.9762 0.3705 0.2006 1.5573 0.1603 0.01928 0.000091 0.01178 0.3248 0.06903 0.9267 0.1621 0.3889 0.01983 0.3356 0.9617 0.10490 0.001179 0.1512 1.3138 0.04309 0.04042 0.3039 1.7855 1.2584 0.000055

Financial highlights

Highlights at the close Wednesday at world financial market trading.

Stocks:

S&P/TSX Composite Index – 15,257.90, down 4.24 points Dow – 24,189.45, down 218.55 points

S&P 500 – 2,642.19, down 14.68 points

Nasdaq – 7,069.03, down 25.27 points

Currencies:

Cdn – 79.47 cents US, up 0.22 of a cent

Pound – C$1.7855, down 0.25 of a cent

Euro – C$1.5573, down 0.13 of a cent

Euro – US$1.2375, up 0.23 of a cent

Oil futures:

US$66.82, up $1.31

(May contract)

Gold futures:

US$1,360.00 per oz., up $14.10 (June contract)

Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman:

$22.025 oz., up 18.6 cents $708.10 kg., up $5.98

The markets today

TORONTO (CP) — Canada’s main stock index ended down slightly Wednesday despite strong gains in energy and gold stocks, while U.S. markets retreated from a rally a day earlier.

The rise in energy stocks came as the price of oil hit its highest level since December 2014 on concerns of instability in the Middle East, said Kathryn Del Greco, vice president and investment advisor at TD Wealth.

“We’re actually seeing some riskoff trade, as geopolitical concerns between Donald Trump and Russia and Syria seem to be escalating. And I think that’s got people thinking a bit more nervously about what kind of environment we’re in.”

The rise in the oil price, with the May crude contract closing up US$1.31 at US$66.82 per barrel, came after Trump tweeted that the U.S. will launch missiles at targets in Syria in response to the recent suspected chemical attack in a rebel-held area that killed at least 40 people.

The tensions have raised concerns that an intervention could disrupt oil supplies, leading investors to look to safe havens, said Del Greco.

“Where you are seeing strength are in names that would be considered safe plays in volatile times, such as energy stocks and in particular gold stocks are rallying the most today.” Overall, the S&P/TSX composite index closed down 4.24 points at 15,257.90, weighed down by financial and base metal stocks.