TSX inches up as investors assess mixed signals from Middle East

Kitco Media
By Reuters
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Reuters
TSX inches up as investors assess mixed signals from Middle East teaser image

April 22 (Reuters) - Canada’s main ​stock index opened higher on Wednesday with broad-based gains ‌after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would extend the Iran ceasefire indefinitely, even as Tehran's seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz kept investors ​cautious.

At 10:41 a.m. ET, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX ​Composite Index (.GSPTSE), was up 0.5% at 33,975.86 points.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news ⁠agency said the Revolutionary Guards had seized two vessels for maritime ​violations and escorted them to Iranian shores. It was the first ​time Iran has seized ships since the war began at the end of February.

Energy shares (.SPTTEN), rose 0.3%, mirroring higher oil prices amid supply concerns.

There's tentative ​optimism among investors, but the oil market is trading as ​though the ceasefire is fragile, said Brian Madden, chief investment officer at ‌First ⁠Avenue Investment Counsel.

The overall market will likely focus on corporate earnings in the next couple of weeks as the initial shock of the war is over, he said.
Ten of 11 TSX sectors ​were trading in ​the green ⁠on Wednesday.

Shares of miners led gains on the index; Silvercorp Metals (SVM.TO), AbraSilver Resources (ABRA.TO), and Ivanhoe Mines (IVN.TO), ​rose between 5.8% and 5.9%, tracking higher gold ​and silver ⁠prices.

Among other stocks, Rogers Communications (RCIb.TO), rose 10.4% after the telecom company posted first-quarter revenue slightly above estimates, as it benefited from expanding its ⁠media ​and sports portfolio.

Metro (MRU.TO), fell 2.9% after ​the grocery retailer said the Laval labor dispute will have an impact on the company's ​third-quarter results.

Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed

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