Market numbers: October 05, 2009

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

North American stock markets were poised for a higher opening Monday after two consecutive weeks of losses that followed disappointing U.S. economic data.

Investors will be looking for optimism in a report on U.S. business activity in the services sector for signs of an improving economy.

On Wall Street, the Institute for Supply Management’s service index reading for September is expected to improve to 50, which would be its highest level of the year, according to economists polled by Thomson Reuters. The index reached 48.4 in August. A reading below 50 indicates the sector is shrinking, while a reading above 50 indicates growth.

Growth in the services sector is considered important to a recovery because it is highly dependent on consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of all economic activity. The report is due out at 10 a.m. ET.

Last week, the Toronto stock market finished lower for a second week in a row, losing 2.26% as investors were dismayed to see that the U.S. economy shed 263,000 jobs, many more than the 180,000 job losses that economists had expected.

Beginning Wednesday, investors will start to receive U.S. quarterly earnings reports that should provide further insight into any rebound. Alcoa kicks off earnings season, and investors will be looking for signs of growth to put at ease recent concerns about the strength of a rebound.

In Canada, investors will get the latest picture of employment at the end of the week when Statistics Canada releases its jobs report for September. Economists expect that the economy actually added 10,000 jobs during the month, in addition to the 27,100 added in August.

In corporate news, Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc. (TSX:KHD) has agreed to be taken over by TransAlta Corp. (TSX:TA) in a $1.6-billion deal.

Canadian life sciences company DiagnoCure Inc. (TSX:CUR) says its Previstage test for colorectal cancer will be represented in the United Kingdom and Ireland by a new partner, Lab21 of Cambridge, England.

Noront Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NOT) said Monday it intends to acquire Freewest Resources Canada Inc (TSXV:FWR), which has yet to respond to Noront’s share-swap proposal.

On Friday, Boralex Power Income Fund (TSX:BPT.UN) said Friday it has signed a deal with AbitibiBowater for the temporary operation of the Dolbeau power station.

Asian markets declined overnight, while European stocks were slightly higher.

Japan’s Nikkei stock average declined 0.6%. In afternoon trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.1%, Germany’s DAX index gained 0.3%, and France’s CAC-40 gained 0.3%.

(The Canadian Press)

North American markets

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Dow Jones	9,487.67	-21.61 or -0.23%	+8.10%
S&P 500	1,025.21	-4.64 or -0.45%	+13.50%
NASDAQ	2,048.11	-9.37 or -0.46%	+29.87%
TSX Composite	10,958.33	-113.43 or -1.02%	+21.93%

International markets

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	Open	Change	YTD
Nikkei	9,674.49	-57.38 or -0.59%	+9.20%
Hang Seng	20,429.07	+53.58 or +0.26%	+41.99%
SENSEX	16,866.41	-268.14 or -1.56%	+74.83%
FTSE 100	4,994.60	+5.90 or +0.12%	+12.64%
CAC 40	3,659.87	+9.97 or +0.27%	+13.73%
DAX	5,489.49	+21.59 or +0.39%	+14.12%

Bonds

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Bonds	$Current	$Previous	%Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond	104.03	104.05	3.26
Cdn. 30-year bond	119.99	120.30	3.82
U.S. 10-year bond	103.39	103.63	3.22
U.S. 30-year bond	108.59	109.34	4.00

Currency

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BoC Open	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.9305	0.9237
US $	1.0746	1.0826

Euro Spot Rate	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.6375	0.6338
Euro	1.5687	1.5779

Commodities

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Gold	AM	PM
London Gold Fix ($US)	$ 1004.25	$1003.50

Oil	Open	Change
WTI Crude Future (US)	$69.17	-$0.78 or -1.12%

(10/05/09)