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Toronto stocks hover near record highs on rate cut optimism

Canada's primary stock index stopped short of hitting record highs on Thursday, increased by gains in ratesensitive stocks, after the U.S. Federal Reserve adhered to its assistance on rate cuts for 2024.

At 10:15 a.m. ET (14:15 GMT), the Toronto Stock market's. S&P/ TSX composite index was up 93.07 points, or 0.42%,. at 22,138.78. The benchmark index climbed up as much as 0.7% to. 22,195.85.

It struck a record high on April 5, 2022, at 22,213.07.

Most sectors were selling the green, led by. rate-sensitive financials and technology sector. that increased 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively, after the U.S. Fed signalled it would press ahead with 3 rate cuts in 2024.

Rate cut optimism is actually the primary driver for the marketplaces. after the Fed took more of a dovish tone, stated Alan Small,. senior investment advisor, Allan Small Financial Group.

He (Fed Chair Jerome Powell) still thinks that you could. see 3 rate cuts this year and I think the market fidgeted. about that thinking he may cut that to two.

Materials group, which houses Canada's precious. and base metal miners, gained 0.7% as costs of gold and base. metals skyrocketed on a softer dollar after the Fed's rate-cut view.

Consumer staples sector led the sectoral. declines, falling 1.5%, led by a 5.6% depression in Alimentation. Couche-Tard, after the international operator of. corner store missed out on revenues expectations.

Wall Street's main indexes hit record highs as chip stocks. rallied following Micron Technology's positive projection,. while financiers took comfort in the Fed sticking to its rate-cut. view for this year.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada deputy guv Toni Gravelle. said on Thursday that the reserve bank is continuing its. quantitative tightening up

(source: Reuters)