Canada's stock market closed in positive territory on Tuesday, led by advances in Clean Technology, Materials and Financials that helped the S&P/TSX Composite register a 0.25% gain at the Toronto close.
Among individual issues, G Mining Ventures Corp (TSX:GMIN) was the session's strongest performer, rising 7.98% or 4.29 points to finish at 58.08. Silvercorp Metals Inc (TSX:SVM) added 6.70% or 1.05 points to close at 16.72, while Denison Mines Corp (TSX:DML) climbed 5.78% or 0.30 points to 5.49 in late trade.
On the downside, goeasy Ltd (TSX:GSY) posted the largest loss, tumbling 56.97% or 65.83 points to end the day at 49.72. Thomson Reuters Corp (TSX:TRI) shed 7.03% or 10.65 points to close at 140.74, and Colliers International Group Inc Bats (TSX:CIGI) fell 4.92% or 7.87 points to 152.07.
Market breadth and notable levels
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the Toronto Stock Exchange by 609 to 350, and 70 stocks finished unchanged. During the session, shares of G Mining Ventures Corp reached all-time highs with the 7.98% advance to 58.08, while goeasy Ltd slid to five-year lows on its 56.97% drop to 49.72.
The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, which tracks implied volatility for S&P/TSX Composite options, declined 5.47% to 19.00, reflecting lower measured option-market volatility at the close.
Commodities and energy
Commodities showed mixed direction. Gold futures for April delivery rose 1.95% or 99.36 to $5,203.06 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for April delivery fell 8.58% or 8.13 to $86.64 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract slid 8.21% or 8.12 to trade at $90.84 a barrel.
Currencies and US dollar
The Canadian dollar was essentially flat against major peers at the close. CAD/USD was unchanged 0.06% to 0.74, while CAD/EUR was unchanged 0.23% to 0.63. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.28% at 98.90.
The day's price action left the S&P/TSX Composite modestly higher overall, with gains concentrated among miners and select materials names and losses focused in several large-cap service and financial-related companies.