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 0.9701

Brazil real 0.3347

China renminbi 0.1978

Euro 1.5355

Hong Kong dollar 0.1673

India rupee 0.01905

Indonesia rupiah 0.000091

Japan yen 0.01187

Malaysia ringgit 0.3247

Mexico peso 0.06821

N.Z. dollar 0.8911

Norway krone 0.1629

Peruvian new sol 0.3992

Russia rouble 0.02080

Saudi riyal 0.3501

Singapore dollar 0.9622

South Africa rand 0.09685

South Korean won 0.001174

Sweden krona 0.1499

Switzerland franc 1.3224

Taiwanese dollar 0.04300

Thailand baht 0.03955

Turkey lira 0.2855

U.K. pound 1.7366

U.S. dollar 1.3129

Vietnam dong 0.000057

Financial highlights

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

S&P/TSX Composite Index – 16,266.61, down 38.11 points Dow – 24,356.74, up 181.92 points

S&P 500 – 2,736.61, up 23.39 points

Nasdaq – 7,586.43, up 83.76 points

Currencies:

Cdn – 76.17 cents US, up 0.08 of a cent

Pound – C$1.7366, down 0.14 of a cent

Euro – C$1.5355, up 0.39 of a cent Euro – US$1.1695, up 0.42 of a cent

Oil futures:

US$72.94, down $1.20 (August contract)

Gold futures: US$1,258.80 per oz., up $5.30 (August contract)

Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman:

$21.95 oz., unchanged $705.69 kg., unchanged

The markets today

TORONTO (CP) — Canada’s main stock index ended lower as energy stocks weighed, while U.S. stock markets edged higher a day after they were closed for the July 4 holiday.

The S&P/TSX capped energy index was slid a per cent to be the worst of the sectors on the TSX as prices for oil and gas both fell. Overall, the S&P/TSX composite index closed down 38.11 points at 16,266.61 as financials and materials stocks also slid. Base metal stocks were up on the day despite a big slide in the September copper contract that ended down nine cents at US$2.83 a pound.

Copper has fallen steeply from the nearly US$2.30 a pound it spiked to in early June on labour concerns at the Escondida mine in Chile, as increasing trade concerns have tempered demand speculation.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 181.92 points at 24,356.74. The S&P 500 index ended up 23.39 points at 2,736.61 and the Nasdaq composite index was up 83.75 points at 7,586.43. Stocks rose despite looming tariffs coming from the U.S. and China on Friday as underlying market sentiments remain strong, said Kash Pashootan, CEO and chief investment officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc.

“Yes there are elevated risks, there is greater volatility, but it’s impressive to see the underlying optimism in equities is still strong when you see these types of rallies shortly after there’s bad news announcements like tariffs.”