2 Minute Read by Reuters Staff (Updates prices, sectors) Reuters, July 2 – Investors looked past bleak economic statistics such as an unexpected trade deficit and a slowdown in domestic industrial activity to raise Canada’s main stock index on Friday, which was bolstered by energy and mining sectors. As gold futures jumped 0.6 percent to $1,786 an ounce, the energy sector increased 0.6 percent, while the materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer businesses, surged 0.7 percent. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 116.53 points, or 0.58 percent, at 20,282.11 at 9:38 a.m. ET (13:38 GMT), after hitting a record high at market open. In May, the country unexpectedly registered a trade deficit of C$1.39 billion ($1.12 billion), falling short of analysts’ predictions of a tiny surplus. Meanwhile, official data revealed that factory activity in the country grew at the weakest rate in four months in June, as material shortages remained and inflationary pressures increased. The financial sector increased by 0.4 percent, while the industrial sector increased by 0.2 percent. With 16.06 million shares traded on the TSX, 170 issues rose while 56 fell, resulting in a 3.04-to-1 gainer-to-loser ratio. The highest percentage gainers on the TSX were uranium producer Nexgen Energy Ltd, which surged 4.7 percent, and freight transportation provider Mullen Group Ltd, which rose 4.3 percent after announcing the acquisition of R.S. Harris Transport Ltd.* Capstone Mining Corp plummeted the most on the TSX, by 2.2 percent, and cannabis manufacturer Aurora Cannabis Inc lost the least, at 1.8 percent. * Bombardier Inc, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Goldgroup Mining Inc. were the most highly traded stocks by volume. There were 14 new 52-week highs and no new lows for the TSX. There were 105 new 52-week highs and 12 new lows across Canadian issues, with 36.46 million shares traded. (Bengaluru-based reporter Amal S contributed to this report; Vinay Dwivedi edited it.)/n
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