MONEY IN BRIEF

Currencies

These are indicative wholesale rates for foreign currency provided by the Bank of Canada on Friday. Quotations in Canadian funds.

Australia dollar 0.9670

Brazil real 0.3443

China renminbi 0.2019

Euro 1.5163

Hong Kong dollar 0.1641

India rupee 0.01894

Indonesia rupiah 0.000091

Japan yen 0.01163

Malaysia ringgit 0.3243

Mexico peso 0.06468

N.Z. dollar 0.8902

Norway krone 0.1587

Peruvian new sol 0.3920

Russia rouble 0.02066

Saudi riyal 0.3435

Singapore dollar 0.9587

South Africa rand 0.10110

South Korean won 0.001190

Sweden krona 0.1472

Switzerland franc 1.2904

Taiwanese dollar 0.04300

Thailand baht 0.04000

Turkey lira 0.2869

U.K. pound 1.7359

U.S. dollar 1.2880

Vietnam dong 0.000057

Financial highlights

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

S&P/TSX Composite Index – 16,162.31, up 18.76 points Dow – 24,715.09, up 1.11 points S&P 500 – 2,712.97, down 7.16 points

Nasdaq – 7,354.34, down 28.13 points

Currencies:

Cdn – 77.68 cents US, down 0.48 of a cent

Pound – C$1.7359, up 0.46 of a cent

Euro – C$1.5163, up 0.60 of a cent Euro – US$1.1773, down 0.25 of a cent

Oil futures:

US$71.37, down 20 cents (July contract)

Gold futures:

US$1,291.30 per oz., up $1.90 (June contract)

Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman: daily quote unavailable from source; office closed on Fridays ( Thursday: $21.942 oz., $705.44 kg.)

The markets today

TORONTO (CP) — Canada’s main stock index closed higher Friday to continue its recent streak of gains, while the loonie moved lower on tepid inflation numbers.

The annual inflation rate cooled slightly in April to 2.2 per cent to remain just above the two per cent midpoint of the Bank of Canada’s range, while retail sales climbed 0.6 per cent on stronger auto sales.

The results were somewhat positive, but not enough to increase the chances of more interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada, said Philip Petursson, chief investment strategist at Manulife Investments.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 18.76 points at 16,162.31, pushed up by healthcare and gold stocks.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 1.11 points at 24,715.09.

The S&P 500 index ended down 7.16 points at 2,712.97 and the Nasdaq composite index was down 28.13 points at 7,354.34. The Canadian dollar averaged 77.64 cents US, down 0.48 of a US cent following inflation numbers Friday.

The July crude contract ended down 20 cents at US$71.37 per barrel and the June natural gas contract closed down a penny at US$2.85 per mmBTU.

The June gold contract closed up US$1.90 at US$1,291.30 an ounce and the July copper contract was down three cents at US$3.06 a pound.