Canadian equities ended the trading session higher on Friday, with the S&P/TSX Composite finishing up 0.66% and recording a new all-time high. Strength in the Materials, Information Technology and Clean Technology sectors supported the advance.
The top performers on the session were concentrated in the mining and metals complex. Fortuna Mining Corp (TSX:FVI) led gains, rising 12.17% - a move equal to 1.82 points - to close at 16.77. First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSX:AG) advanced 11.01% or 3.74 points to finish at 37.70. Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN) also posted a strong showing, adding 10.91% or 3.89 points to end the day at 39.55.
On the downside, a handful of names recorded steep losses. Superior Plus Corp (TSX:SPB) fell 18.39% or 1.46 points to trade at 6.48 at the close. Curaleaf Holdings Inc (TSX:CURA) dropped 9.78% or 0.35 points to 3.23, while Eldorado Gold Corp (TSX:ELD) declined 9.74% or 6.35 points to close at 58.84.
Market breadth in Toronto favored advancing issues, with 578 stocks higher versus 378 declining and 89 finishing unchanged. Notably, shares of Fortuna Mining Corp, First Majestic Silver Corp. and Lundin Mining Corporation each rose to record highs during the session.
Volatility measures eased as the S&P/TSX 60 VIX fell 5.60% to 16.35, indicating lower implied volatility on options tied to the S&P/TSX Composite.
Commodity prices were mixed. Gold futures for April delivery climbed 2.49% - up 124.50 - to $5,121.90 a troy ounce. In energy markets, April crude oil slipped 0.06% or 0.04 to $66.36 a barrel, while the April Brent contract was unchanged at $71.66 a barrel.
Currency moves were modest. The Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar was effectively unchanged, moving 0.03% to 0.73. The CAD/EUR rate was also little changed, moving 0.08% to 0.62. The US Dollar Index Futures eased 0.22% to 97.64.
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This summary reflects price movements, market breadth and related commodity and currency data reported at the close of trading in Toronto on the referenced session.