MONEY IN BRIEF

Currencies

These are indicative wholesale rates for foreign currency provided by the Bank of Canada on Tuesday. 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 0.9757 0.3510 0.1937 1.5383 0.1677 0.01908 0.000091 0.01184 0.3236 0.06973 0.8951 0.1610 0.4017 0.02090 0.3508 0.9647 0.09881 0.001167 0.1491 1.3240 0.04297 0.03943 0.2695 1.7285 1.3157 0.000057

Financial highlights

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

S&P/TSX Composite Index – 16,390.13, down 30.71 points Dow – 25,241.94, up 197.65 points

S&P 500 – 2,820.40, up 13.42 points

Nasdaq – 7,840.77, down 1.10 points

Currencies:

Cdn – 76.01 cents US, unchanged Pound – C$1.7285, up 0.35 of a cent

Euro – C$1.5383, down 0.13 of a cent

Euro – US$1.1692, down 0.11 of a cent

Oil futures:

US$68.52, up 63 cents (September contract)

Gold futures:

US$1,225.50 per oz., down 10 cents

(August contract)

Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman:

$21.251 oz., up 14.5 cents $683.22 kg., up $4.66

The markets today

Canada’s main stock index gave up early gains to close lower Tuesday, while U.S. stocks were mixed and the loonie remained flat.

The Toronto Stock Exchange ended lower despite strong gains in commodities, which showed strength after copper rose from a price floor, said Dominique Barker, Portfolio Manager, CIBC Asset Management.

“One thing that has been consistent all day has been commodities, so we’ve had commodity prices up off the bottom, particularly copper.”

The September copper contract closed up six cents at US$2.81 a pound. Efforts by the Chinese government to spur economic activity is probably a key contributor to the rise, said Barker. “I think that’s driven by some news out of China yesterday with their announcement to reduce taxes and increase infrastructure spending. So we’re seeing a readthrough on to the energy stocks, equities in Canada, as well as copper stocks in Canada.”

The S&P/TSX global base metals index was up 3.62 per cent as big copper names like Souther Copper, Lundin Mining, First Quantum Minerals all saw substantial gains.

Overall, the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index closed down 30.71 points at 16,390.13 as losses in health, industrials and consumer staples weighed on the market.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 197.65 points at 25,241.94.