(MENAFN- Baystreet.ca)
Stocks Bruised to Close Week
Baytex, Advantage Slide on General Weakness in Energy
Markets in Canada's largest centre lost ground on Friday as energy stocks tracked weaker crude prices, while investors remained cautious on developments around the Russia-Ukraine standoff. Cannabis stocks in this country also suffered.
The S&P/TSX Composite dropped 168.13 points to close Friday's session at 21,008.20, for a loss on the week of 577 points, or 2.67%.
The Canadian dollar failed 0.27 cents at 78.41 cents U.S.
Markets are to be closed Monday in Canada for Family Day.
Cannabis issues were punished the hardest, with Cronos Group lower 27 cents, or 5.7%, to $4.51, while Aurora Cannabis surrendered 30 cents, or 5.7%, to $5.26.
Energy stocks faltered, too, as Advantage Oil & Gas lost 36 cents, or 5.7%, to $6.01, while Baytex Energy forfeited 20 cents, or 4%, to $4.84.
In resource stocks, Dundee Precious Metals handed over 37 cents, or 4.4%, to $7.99, while Endeavour Silver was pounded 21 cents, or 3.9%, to $5.16.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada said retail sales fell 1.8% to $57.0 billion in December. Lower sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores (-9.5%) and furniture and home furnishings stores (-11.3%) led the decline, which coincided with concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in December.
The agency also said In January, new home prices for Canada grew by 0.9% compared with December, slightly up after the market had a brief slowdown in December. Prices were up in 15 of the 27 census metropolitan areas surveyed, and unchanged in 12.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange ditched 7.38 points to 852.15, for a loss on the week of 16.6 points, or 1.9%.
All 12 TSX subgroups moved into the red by the closing bell, with health-care weakening 3.2%, energy down 2.3%, and materials off 1.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock indexes fell Friday and notched a second consecutive losing week as the Russia-Ukraine conflict put investors on edge.
The Dow Jones Industrials thundered lower 232.85 points to 34,085.47, following the index's worst day since the end of November.
The S&P 500 sagged 31.39 points to 4,348.87.
The NASDAQ stumbled 168.658 points, or 1.2%, to 13,548.07.
The indexes each lost more than 1% this week.
Friday was particularly volatile with trillions of dollars in options and futures on stocks, indexes and ETFs set to expire. Option expiration days, which generally occur on the third Friday of the month, can cause the market to swing in a wide range as these positions are closed out.
Stocks have struggled this week as investors continue to be on edge about the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The Ukrainian government and Russian state-controlled media on Friday exchanged fresh accusations of cease-fire violations at the border.
Ukraine on Thursday accused pro-Russian separatists of attacking a village near the border. In the U.S., meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to the United Nations and warned that the situation is at a 'moment of peril.'
President Joe Biden is reportedly expected to move more U.S. troops closer to Ukraine. The Ukrainian government and Russian state-controlled media on Friday exchanged fresh accusations of cease-fire violations at the border.
Energy stocks eased. Schlumberger lost 2.2% and Devon Energy was nearly 1% lower.
Intel was the biggest laggard on the Dow, down 5.3%. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating on the stock.
Roku shares dropped 22.3% after the video-streaming company reported a revenue miss and issued weaker-than-expected guidance.
Prices for 10-year Treasurys gained, weighing yields to 1.92%, from Thursday's 1.97%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices fell a dime to $91.66 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid $2.90 to $1,899.10 U.S. an ounce.
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