Jobless numbers lift markets to new highs
Friday’s unemployment numbers helped lift Toronto and New York markets to record closes to cap a winning first week of trading in 2026. The U.S. added 50,000 jobs last month to decrease the unemployment rate to 4.4%, but that number actually fell short of forecasts. Nonetheless, the street feels that the U.S. Fed will not cut rates this month. Sentiment drove the S&P 0.65% higher to a record 6,966, while the Dow rose 0.48% to a record of 49,504. The Nasdaq climbed 0.81%. For the week, the S&P advanced 1.57%, the Nasdaq 1.88% and the Dow 2.32%. Major movers on Wall Street: Sandisk 12.81% to cap a strong week for the computer memory stocks, Intel 10.8%, Vistra 10.47%, Lennar 8.85% and Las Vegas Sands, which slid 4.77%. The U.S. 10-year yield edged down to 4.167% while Bitcoin declined 0.5% to US$90,250.
The TSX also had a winning week, up 2.3%, and on Friday by climbed 0.72% to a record 32,612. All but healthcare rallied, featuring strong performances in energy, materials and real estate. Key names included CNQ up 2.08%, Whitecap Resources 1.74%, Bausch Health -4.35%, Endeavour Silver 9.39% and West Fraser Timber 6.96%. WTI climbed 1.8% to US$58.80, silver jumped US$3 to nearly US$80 while gold rose US$32 to US$4,510.
🧬 SanDisk Corp (SNDK-Q) +12.81%
💾 Intel (INTC-Q) +10.8%
💡 Vistra (VST-N) +10.47%
🛠 Lennar Corp. (LEN-N) +8.85%
♣ Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS-N) -4.47%
🅱 Bitcoin (BTCUSD) (CRYPTO:BTC) -0.5%
🛢 Canadian Natural Rsrcs (CNQ-T) +2.08%
🛢 Whitecap Resources (WCP-T) +1.74%
👨⚕️ Bausch Health Companies Inc (BHC-N) -4.35%
🥈 Endeavour Silver Corp. (EDR-T) +9.39%
🌲 West Fraser Timber (WFG-T) +6.96%
