P.M. market numbers: August 12, 2009

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

The Toronto stock market racked up a slight gain after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a relatively upbeat take on the economy while adding that a slow recovery means that interest rates will stay low for “an extended period.”

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 30.4 points to 10,659.87 with most of the strength coming from the energy and financial sectors.

The market had lost about 250 points over the last two days while investors took profits and searched for fresh signs the U.S. economy is strengthening and pulling out of its recession.

The Fed, wrapping up a two-day meeting on rates, said it would keep its federal funds rate near zero and added that economic activity is “levelling out.”

The TSX energy sector was up 1% as the September crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange climbed 71 cents to US$70.16 a barrel as the U.S. Energy Information Administration said oil placed into storage in the U.S. rose for the third straight week.

Financials were also supportive, up 0.42%.

The Canadian dollar was volatile for a second day, moving up 1.09 cents to 91.88 cents US, reversing Tuesday’s slide of just over a cent.

New York markets ran up sharply even as the central bank also signalled that it would soon end one of its programs aimed at propping up the economy.

The Fed said it would gradually slow the pace of its program to buy Treasury securities so that it will shut down at the end of October, versus September. The program is aimed at lowering rates on mortgages and other consumer debt, a move to spur Americans to spend more.

The Dow Jones industrials surged 120.16 points to 9,361.61.

The Nasdaq composite index gained 28.99 points to 1,998.72 while the S&P 500 index moved ahead 11.46 points to 1,005.81.

The gold sector declined 0.69% as the December bullion contract moved ahead $4.90 to US$952.50 an ounce.

(THE CANADIAN PRESS)

North American markets

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	Close	Change	YTD
Dow Jones	9,361.61	+120.16 or +1.30%	+6.67%
S&P 500	1,005.81	+11.46 or +1.15%	+11.35%
NASDAQ	1,998.72	+28.99 or +1.47%	+26.74%
TSX Composite	10,659.87	+30.40 or +0.29%	+18.61%

International markets

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	Close	Change	YTD
Nikkei	10,435.00	-150.46 or -1.42%	+17.78%
Hang Seng	20,435.24	-638.97 or -3.03%	+42.03%
SENSEX	15,020.16	-54.43 or -0.36%	+55.69%
FTSE 100	4,716.76	+45.42 or +0.97%	+6.37%
CAC 40	3,507.24	+51.06 or +1.48%	+8.99%
DAX	5,350.09	+64.28 or +1.22%	+11.22%

Bonds

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Bonds	$Current	$Previous	%Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond	101.95	102.12	3.51
Cdn. 30-year bond	116.79	117.02	3.99
U.S. 10-year bond	95.30	95.47	3.70
U.S. 30-year bond	95.95	96.87	4.52

Currency

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BoC Close	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.9188	0.9078
US $	1.0884	1.1015

Euro Spot Rate	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.6465	0.6415
Euro	1.5468	1.5588

Commodities

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Gold	AM	PM
London Gold Fix ($US)	$943.50	$946.00

Oil	Close	Change
WTI Crude Future (US)	$70.21	+$0.76 or +1.09%

(08/12/09)