Canadian stocks were extending gains for a third session Friday morning as traders welcomed the European Central Bank's stimulus measures in the form of bond buying to help mitigate the risk of debt-ridden euro zone nation. Commodities were moving higher after today's downbeat jobs data from the U.S. that raised hopes for stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 85.13 points or 0.70 percent to 12,224.86, after adding about 200 points or 2 percent in the past two sessions.
Athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LLL.TO) surged over 7 percent after reporting improved second quarter net income of $57.22 million or $0.39 per share from prior-year's $38.38 million or $0.26 per share. Quarterly earnings per share, normalized for the tax adjustment, were $0.34, and would have been $0.31 at its prior estimated effective tax rate of 36.5 percent, the company added. Analysts were expecting the company to report earnings of $0.31 per share for the quarter. Lululemon expects third quarter earnings per share in the range of $0.34 to $0.36, slightly higher than analysts' projection of $0.33 per share.
The Diversified Materials Index surged over 5 percent, with with First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) gaining over 8 percent. Teck Resources (TCK_B.TO) moved up about 5 percent, while Inmet Mining (IMN.TO) was adding over 3 percent.
The price of gold recovered from early trading losses to jump back above the $1,700-mark Friday morning. Gold for December soared $34.80 to $1,740.40 an ounce.
Among gold plays, Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM.TO), Barrick Gold (ABX.TO), Detour Gold (DGC.TO) and Goldcorp. (G.TO) were up around 3 percent each.
Eldorado Gold (ELD.TO) gained nearly 5 percent.
Fertilizer makers, Potash Corp. (POT.TO) and Agrium Inc. (AGU.TO) added around 1 percent each.
The price of crude oil was ticking lower Friday morning as the U.S. dollar was mixed amid jobs data from the U.S. Crude for October $0.65 to $94.88 a barrel.
In the oil patch, Suncor Energy (SU.TO) and Niko Resources (NKO.TO) moved up around 1 percent each.
Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO) gained close to 3 percent.
Software company Cardiocomm Solutions Inc. (EKG.V) skyrocketed 25 percent after it said it has received clearance from Health Canada for the sales and marketing of their HeartCheck ECG PEN to both consumers and patients
Airlines operator Air Canada (AC_A.TO) rose 2 percent after reporting that its traffic in August 2012 increased 0.7 percent from August 2011, on a capacity increase of 0.6 percent.
Meanwhile, media company Transcontinental Inc. (TCL_A.TO) dived over 5 percent after reporting a lower third quarter net income at C$8.1 million or C$0.10 per share compared to C$31.5 million or C$0.39 per share in the same quarter last year.
Minerals mining company Talison Lithium (TLH) Thursday reported a fourth-quarter profit of A$9.4 million or A$8.8 per share, up from A$7.9 million or A$7.3 per share in the year-ago quarter. The stock edged down 0.70 percent.
Natural resource properties explorer PolyMet Mining Corp. (POM.TO) slipped 1 percent after reporting a second-quarter net loss of $2.0 million, wider than the year-ago net loss of $1.2 million in the comparable quarter. Loss per share for the quarter remained unchanged from last year's $0.01.
In economic news Statistics Canada said the nation's unemployment rate held steady at 7.3 percent as employment rose by 34,000 in August, helped by an increase in part-time work. On a year-over-year basis, employment increased by 1.0 percent or 177,000. Economists expected 10,000 job additons in the month of August.
From the U.S., a report from the U.S. Labor Department revealed that employment increased by 96,000 jobs in August following a downwardly revised increase of 141,000 jobs in July. Economists had expected an increase of about 125,000 jobs compared to the addition of 163,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month. Despite the weaker than expected job growth, the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent in August from 8.3 in July amid a notable decrease in the size of the workforce
Germany's exports and imports increased unexpectedly in July, data from Destatis revealed. Exports grew 0.5 percent month-on-month, partially offsetting June's 1.4 percent fall. Likewise, imports gained 0.9 percent after falling 2.9 percent in June. Economists had forecast a 0.5 percent drop in exports and 0.3 percent decrease in imports.
Meanwhile, U.K. industrial production recovered in July at a faster than expected pace, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. Industrial output grew 2.9 percent month-on-month, reversing June's 2.4 percent fall. The increase exceeded the 1.5 percent rise forecast by economists.
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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.