A.M. market numbers: August 14, 2009

| North American markets | International markets | Bonds | Currency | Commodities |

The Toronto stock market could get some early lift from higher oil prices Friday.

Investors will also be taking in some key U.S. economic reports during the morning.

The S&P/TSX composite index jumped 166 points on Thursday as investors brushed off data showing that U.S. retail sales unexpectedly dropped last month. Economists had expected a rise in sales of 0.7% – instead they dropped by 0.1%.

On Friday, the September crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange was up 26 cents to US$70.78 a barrel as traders bet that the American economy, the world’s largest crude consumer, will recover later this year.

Oil prices have oscillated near $71 a barrel for about two weeks as investors weigh lacklustre U.S. consumer demand against expectations the economy could rebound strongly next year from recession.

The Canadian dollar was up 0.18 to 92.01 cents US.

U.S. futures pointed to a flat open prior to the release of reports on inflation, industrial production and consumer confidence.

The Dow industrial futures slipped six points, the Nasdaq futures of 1.25 points and the S&P 500 futures inched up 0.2 of a point.

The U.S. Labour Department is expected to say the consumer price index, a key measure of inflation, was flat in July after a 0.7% increase in June.

The core inflation rate, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, is expected to rise 0.1% in July.

The Federal Reserve is expected to report that production at U.S. factories, mines and utilities grew 0.3% last month. It would be the first increase in nine months, a sign the recession is easing.

And the strength of the consumer will again be a focus Friday as the University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment is released for August. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters expect a preliminary reading on consumer sentiment of 68.5, higher than July’s final reading of 66.0.

The December bullion contract was up $4.10 to $960.60 an ounce while September copper dipped one cent to $2.90 a pound.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average added 0.8%, to close at a 10-month high while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng recovered losses to close up 0.2%.

London’s FTSE 100 index added 0.33%, Frankfurt’s DAX was up 0.37% while the Paris CAC 40 gained 0.68%.

On the earnings front, high priced teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch said Friday that slumping sales led to a loss of $26.7 million, compared with a profit of $77.8 million a year earlier.

FNX Mining Co. Inc. (TSX:FNX) reported second-quarter profits of C$12.5 million, up from year-earlier net earnings of $11.3 million. Revenue was down 45% to $61.9 million.

Linamar Corp. (TSX:LNR) saw a $48.4 million loss in the second quarter, but the auto parts company said it well positioned for a turnaround with hundreds of millions of dollars in new business set to begin production this year.

Petrowest Energy Services Trust (TSX:PRW.UN), which launched a strategic review last month, reported a loss in its most recent quarter as sales fell sharply. The oilfield services trust said Thursday that it lost $48.6 million or $1.48 per unit for the quarter ended June 30 compared with a loss of $11.2 million or 34 cents per unit a year ago.

(The Canadian Press)

North American markets

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Dow Jones	9,398.19	+36.58 or +0.39%	+7.08%
S&P 500	1,012.73	+6.92 or +0.69%	+12.12%
NASDAQ	2,009.35	+10.63 or +0.53%	+27.41%
TSX Composite	10,825.56	+165.69 or +1.55%	+20.45%

International markets

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	Open	Change	YTD
Nikkei	10,597.33	+80.14 or +0.76%	+19.61%
Hang Seng	20,893.33	+32.03 or +0.15%	+45.22%
SENSEX	15,411.63	-106.86 or -0.69%	+59.75%
FTSE 100	4,777.07	+21.61 or +0.45%	+7.73%
CAC 40	3,550.35	+25.96 or +0.74%	+10.33%
DAX	5,428.15	+27.04 or +0.50%	+12.85%

Bonds

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Bonds	$Current	$Previous	%Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond	102.05	101.95	3.50
Cdn. 30-year bond	117.19	116.79	3.97
U.S. 10-year bond	100.22	95.30	3.60
U.S. 30-year bond	97.14	95.95	4.42

Currency

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BoC Open	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.9201	0.9183
US $	1.0868	1.0890

Euro Spot Rate	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.6459	0.6431
Euro	1.5482	1.5555

Commodities

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Gold	AM	PM
London Gold Fix ($US)	$ 957.50	$953.50

Oil	Open	Change
WTI Crude Future (US)	$70.77	+$0.25 or +0.35%

(08/14/09)