Canadian stocks are poised to extend gains Thursday amid firm commodities and encouraging cues from the global equity markets. While Asian markets ended mixed overnight, European shares were trading higher after ECB governor Mario Draghi said the central bank will do whatever is needed to preserve the euro.
The euro surged higher amid reports that European Central Bank governor Mario Draghi, in a speech at the Global Investment Conference, vowed that the central bank will do whatever is needed to preserve the euro.
U.S. stock futures were pointing to a much higher open.
On Wednesday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index snapped its three-session losing streak to add 25.56 points or 0.22 percent to 11,492.51.
The price of crude oil was extending gains Thursday morning as the euro surged higher following ECB governor Mario Draghi's comments. Crude for September moved up $1.33 to $90.30 a barrel.
The price of gold was firm around its four-week high Thursday morning as the U.S. dollar was struggling to sustain recent gains versus a basket of currencies. Gold for August gained $5.20 to $1,613.30 an ounce.
In corporate news from Canada, Potash Corp. (POT.TO) posted lower second-quarter net income of $522 million or $0.60 per share, versus $840 million or $0.96 per share last year. Analysts were expecting the company to report earnings of $1.02 per share for the quarter. Looking ahead to the third quarter, net income per share is estimated to be in the range of $0.70 - $0.90, lower than consensus projections of earnings of $0.95 per share.
Barrick Gold (ABX.TO) said its second-quarter net earnings slid to $0.75 billion or $0.75 per share, from $1.16 billion or $1.16 per share in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted net earnings were $0.78 billion or $0.78 per share, lower than $1.12 billion or $1.12 per share a year ago. Analysts were expecting the company to report earnings of $0.95 per share for the quarter.
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM.TO) reported a lower second-quarter net income of $43.3 million or $0.25 per share compared to $68.8 million or $0.40 per share in the same quarter last year. Adjusted net income for the latest-quarter was $68.9 million or $0.40 per share. Analysts were expecting the gold miner to report earnings of $0.31 per share
Energy services company Mullen Group Ltd. (MTL.TO) reported a much lower second-quarter net income of C$7.4 million or C$0.09 per share compared to C$12.3 million or C$0.15 per share last year. Adjusted net income for the quarter was C$18.5 million or C$0.23 per share compared to C$15.0 million or C$0.19 per share last year. Analysts were expecting the company to report earnings of C$0.22 per share for the quarter.
Chemical products company Methanex Corp.(MX.TO) reported improved second quarter net income of $52.24 million or $0.50 per share compared with $40.53 million or $0.43 per share for the second quarter of 2011. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $44 million or $0.47 per share compared to $39 million or $0.41 per share in the same quarter last year. Analysts were expecting the company to report earnings of $0.58 per share for the quarter.
In economic news from the U.S., the Labor Department said initial jobless claims tumbled to 353,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to edge down to 380,000 from the 386,000 originally reported for the previous week.
Meanwhile, according to figures released by the Commerce Department overall new orders for durable goods came in at $221.6 billion, a 1.6 percent increase from May levels. Furthermore the increase, which was much higher than most economists expected, came atop revised figures for May that showed a 1.6 percent increase in durable goods orders for that month, higher than the 1.1 percent increase initially reported.
From the euro zone, German consumer confidence is set to rise modestly in August despite the growing tensions surrounding the Eurozone's economic prospects, a survey by Market research group GfK revealed. GfK's consumer confidence index for August rose to 5.9 from 5.8 in July. Economists expected the index to remain at the July level.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.