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 0.9861 0.3826 0.2032 1.5743 0.1632 0.01968 0.000093 0.01203 0.3310 0.07028 0.9349 0.1636 0.3970 0.02223 0.3416 0.9755 0.10770 0.001207 0.1525 1.3349 0.04382 0.04100 0.3201 1.8026 1.2809 0.000056

Financial highlights

Highlights at the close Wednesday at world financial market trading.

Stocks:

S&P/TSX Composite Index – 15,164.37, down 16.39 points Dow – 24,264.30, up 230.94 points

S&P 500 – 2,644.69, up 30.24 points

Nasdaq – 7,042.11, up 100.83 points

Currencies:

Cdn – 78.07 cents US, up 0.02 of a cent

Pound – C$1.8026, up 0.18 of a cent

Euro – C$1.5743, up 0.22 of a cent Euro – US$1.2291, up 0.20 of a cent

Oil futures:

US$63.37, down 14 cents (May contract)

Gold futures:

US$1,340.20 per oz., up $2.90 (June contract)

Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman:

$21.813, down 8.7 cents $701.29 kg., down $2.80

The markets today

TORONTO (CP) — Escalating promises of tariffs by the U.S. and China had markets open lower Wednesday, only for U.S. indexes to end the day with gains while the TSX stayed in the red.

The market oscillations come as investors try to determine whether the two countries will follow through on the threats of tariffs, said Kathryn Del Greco, vice president and investment advisor at TD Wealth.

“The number one concern to the market right now is the tariff negotiation tactic that seems to be back and forth, sort of like a game of ping pong, between China and the U.S., to see what really in effect is going to come to fruition.”

The uncertainty helped send the S&P/TSX composite index down 16.39 points to close at 15,164.37, led by declines in gold, materials, and health care sectors. “Certainly, as we all know, if the U.S. catches a cold, Canada catches pneumonia. Whatever happens to the U.S. economy, is the tail that’s wagging us,” said Del Greco.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 230.94 points at 24,264.30. The S&P 500 index ended up 30.24 points at 2,644.69 and the Nasdaq composite index was up 100.83 points at 7,042.11.

The Canadian dollar averaged 78.07 cents US, up 0.02 of a US cent. The May crude contract closed down 14 cents at US$63.37 per barrel and the May natural gas contract was up two cents at US$2.71 per mmBTU.