P.M. market numbers: November 2, 2009

By Staff | November 2, 2009 | Last updated on November 2, 2009
3 min read
| North American markets | International markets | Bonds | Currency | Commodities |

The Toronto stock market moved into positive territory mid-morning Monday as American economic data and a solid quarterly profit from Ford Motor Co. helped balance a downturn in tech heavyweight Research In Motion Ltd.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 44.3 points to 10,955.1.

Fresh doubts about the strength of an economic recovery pushed the main index down more than four per cent last week, leading to the first monthly loss since February.

The investor sentiment improved after the latest reading on the U.S. manufacturing sector came in much better than expected. The Institute for Supply Management’s index came in at 55.7 during October, against the 53 reading that was forecast. The reading represented the strongest growth in the ISM since April 2006.

And the volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes surged 6.1% in September from August to 110.1. That was much higher than the 103.8 reading that economists had expected, as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, RIM shares fell $3.15 to $60.67 after Citigroup analyst Jim Suvam reduced his rating on the stock to “sell” from “buy” because of the impact of competing smart phones, especially Motorola Inc. phones using Google Inc.’s Android operating system.

In New York, shares in Ford shot up 54 cents to US$7.54 after the firm reported that gains in market share, cost cuts and the U.S. government’s Cash for Clunkers program led to a US$997 million profit in the third quarter.

Ford says it now expects to be “solidly profitable” in 2011. Previously the automaker said it would be break-even or better and its shares were up more than six per cent in pre-market trading in New York.

TSX gains were led by the gold sector, up 2.26% as the December bullion contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange gained $21.20 to US$1,061.60 an ounce. Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX) gained 76 cents to $39.72.

The base metals sector advanced 0.9% even as December copper moved a cent higher at US$2.97 a pound. HudBay Minerals (TSX:HBM) advanced 13 cents to $14.14.

The energy sector was ahead 0.44% with the December crude contract in New York up 90 cents to US$77.90 a barrel after falling almost US$3 on Friday.

The Canadian dollar headed up 0.65 of a US cent to 93.08 cents US.

(The Canadian Press)

North American markets Back to Top
Dow Jones 9,712.73 -249.85 or -2.51% +10.67%
S&P 500 1,036.19 -29.92 or -2.81% +14.72%
NASDAQ 2,045.11 -52.44 or -2.50% +29.68%
TSX Composite 10,910.75 -164.47 or -1.49% +21.40%

International markets Back to Top
Open Change YTD
Nikkei 9,802.95 -231.79 or -2.31% +10.65%
Hang Seng 21,620.19 -132.68 or -0.61% +50.27%
SENSEX 15,896.28 -156.44 or -0.97% +64.77%
FTSE 100 5,104.66 +60.11 or +1.19% +15.12%
CAC 40 3,658.93 +51.24 or +1.42% +13.70%
DAX 5,455.52 +40.56 or +0.75% +13.42%

Bonds Back to Top
Bonds $Current $Previous %Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond 102.63 102.08 3.43
Cdn. 30-year bond 118.00 117.10 3.93
U.S. 10-year bond 101.69 101.30 3.42
U.S. 30-year bond 103.97 103.19 4.26

Currency Back to Top
BoC Close Today Previous
Canadian $ 0.9357 0.9243
US $ 1.0768 1.0819

Euro Spot Rate Today Previous
Canadian $ 0.6263 0.6307
Euro 1.5968 1.5855

Commodities Back to Top
Gold AM PM
London Gold Fix ($US) $1052.00 $1040.50

Oil Open Change
WTI Crude Future (US) $78.17 +1.17% or +1.52%

(11/02/09)

Advisor.ca staff

Staff

The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.