P.M. market numbers: August 21, 2009

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

The Toronto stock market closed sharply higher as investors bought shares across most sectors after U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. economy is on the verge of a long-awaited recovery.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 130.67 points to 10,831.18 as sentiment also improved in the wake of oil prices that hit 2009 highs and positive U.S. housing sector data.

Despite the strong showing Friday, the Toronto market lost slight ground for a second week, shedding 16.83 points amid lingering concern about how much support U.S. consumers and Asian economies can lend to a recovery.

During an annual Fed conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Bernanke said that “the prospects for a return to growth in the near term appear good.”

He did warn, however, that lending is not back to normal, and that the difficulty consumers and businesses are having obtaining loans remain a challenge.

The energy sector rose 1.75 per cent as a strong advance on the main China market and good economic news from Europe helped send the October contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange up 98 cents to US$73.55 a barrel, after rising as much as US$74.72, the high for the year.

Oil prices have risen sharply since data was released Wednesday showing a large drawdown of U.S. crude inventories last week, raising hopes for demand.

Suncor Inc. (TSX:SU) improved $1.05 to $35.53 and Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) rose $1.19 to $65.

The Canadian dollar rose 0.46 of a cent to 92.43 cents U.S. and the TSX Venture Exchange was ahead 7.56 points to 1,191.95.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrials surged 155.91 points to 9,505.96, gaining 184.56 points or 1.99 per cent on the week.

The Nasdaq composite index jumped 31.68 points to 2,020.9 while the S&P 500 index gained 18.76 points to 1,026.13.

Though Bernanke’s positive assessment on the economy was encouraging, the market’s challenges, including rising unemployment and sluggish consumer spending, are certainly far from over.

Meanwhile, a bigger-than-expected jump in U.S. home sales helped give stocks a boost. The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes rose 7.2 per cent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.24 million in July, from a pace of 4.89 million in June. Sales had been expected to rise to an annual pace of five million.

It was the fourth straight monthly increase and the highest level of sales since August 2007. The rise in sales came amid a sharp decline in home prices.

The Toronto market also received support from other commodity prices that moved higher. The December bullion contract on the Nymex gained $13 to US$954.70 an ounce while September copper climbed 13 cents to US$2.8805 a pound.

The base metals sector climbed 2.15 per cent with Teck Resources (TSX:TCK.B) ahead 49 cents to $28.88.

The gold sector gained 1.3 per cent and Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX) moved ahead 59 cents to $37.60.

The financials sector was up almost one per cent ahead of earnings reports coming down next week from most of the big banks.

(THE CANADIAN PRESS)

North American markets

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	Close	Change	YTD
Dow Jones	9,505.96	+155.91 or +1.67%	+8.31%
S&P 500	1,026.13	+18.76 or +1.86%	+13.60%
NASDAQ	2,020.90	+31.68 or +1.59%	+28.15%
TSX Composite	10,831.18	+130.67 or +1.22%	+20.51%

International markets

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	Close	Change	YTD
Nikkei	10,238.20	-145.21 or -1.40%	+15.56%
Hang Seng	20,199.02	-129.84 or -0.64%	+40.39%
SENSEX	15,240.83	+228.51 or +1.52%	+57.98%
FTSE 100	4,850.89	+94.31 or +1.98%	+9.40%
CAC 40	3,615.81	+110.49 or +3.15%	+12.36%
DAX	5,462.74	+151.68 or +2.86%	+13.57%

Bonds

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Bonds	$Current	$Previous	%Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond	102.28	103.06	3.47
Cdn. 30-year bond	117.54	118.79	3.95
U.S. 10-year bond	100.50	101.75	3.56
U.S. 30-year bond	102.17	104.59	4.37

Currency

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BoC Close	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.9243	0.9197
US $	1.0819	1.0873

Euro Spot Rate	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.6445	0.6451
Euro	1.5517	1.5502

Commodities

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Gold	AM	PM
London Gold Fix ($US)	$941.50	$952.50

Oil	Close	Change
WTI Crude Future (US)	$73.88	+$0.97 or +1.33%

(08/21/09)