Daily Wrap-Up: TSX manages to edge into positive territory

TSX manages to edge into positive territory... Wages gain 2% in 12 months to May... TransCanada begins search for new Keystone XL deals...

Daily Wrap-Up: TSX manages to edge into positive territory
Steve Randall
TSX manages to edge into positive territory
Six sector groups of the main TSX index closed lower Thursday including the influential financials group, materials, and healthcare which dropped 1.24%.

Gains for energy and telecoms were weighty enough to offset the losses with help from utilities and consumer discretionary, leaving the index just into positive territory.

Wall Street closed mixed with the Dow gaining while the S&P500 was lower and there was a 0.6% drop for the tech-focused Nasdaq. European indexes closed lower while Asian bourses were mainly higher.

Oil continued its current upward path with falling US stockpiles boosting prices by more than 1.2%. Gold slipped as the greenback headed higher after recent lows.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed up 19.97 (0.13%)
The Dow Jones closed up 85.54 (0.39%)
Oil is trending higher (Brent $51.60, WTI $49.13 at 4.35pm)
Gold is trending higher (1258.90 at 4.35pm)
The loonie is valued at U$0.7961

Wages gain 2% in 12 months to May
There was virtually no change in the average weekly wage of non-farm payroll workers in May from the month before but the $972 figure was 2% above that of 12 months earlier.

Statistics Canada reported Thursday that earnings were higher in 7 of the 10 largest industrial sectors, led by professional, scientific and technical services. Earnings declined in retail trade and were little changed in manufacturing and construction.

TransCanada begins search for new Keystone XL deals
With the delayed Keystone XL pipeline now approved by President Trump, although still facing some challenges, TransCanada has actively begun searching for new customers.

The Calgary-based firm has launched an ‘open season’ to get commitments from shippers with the aim of securing deals for 225,000 barrels a day towards the pipeline’s 830,000 capacity.

Despite increased competition in the market, TransCanada believes that its latest drive will be fully subscribed.

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