Losses in the pivotal energy and financials sectors pulled Canada’s stock exchange into negative territory today.

The TSX fell 53 points despite a lift in oil prices and positive economic data from Statistics Canada.

A weight was aerospace giant Bombardier, which slipped 4.4 percent and was the most heavily-traded company on the index, supplanting perennial front runner Aurora Cannabis which moved two percent into the green.

Canada’s energy sector wobbled, even with oil rising 89 cents to $60.19 US a barrel.

Bolstering demand was OPEC supply cuts and U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Stats Canada reported today that the nation’s economy grew by 0.3 percent in January, fully offsetting the declines in November and December of 2018.

The rise was widespread as 18 of 20 industrial sectors were higher. StatsCan also noted that Canada’s manufacturing sector rose 1.5 percent in January.

In New York, perceived progress in a potential U.S./China trade deal boosted sentiment and lifted markets.

Representatives from the world’s two largest economies wrapped up negotiations today, with America’s secretary treasurer saying that talks were “constructive.”

The Dow added 211 points while the Nasdaq was 60 points higher to end the week.

Industrial bellwethers Boeing and Caterpillar traded higher, up 1.8 and 2.3 percent respectively.

Ride-sharing giant Lyft achieved lift-off in its trading debut, by rising 8.7 percent. Lyft is the U.S.’s second largest ride-hail service in the U.S. behind Uber.

Overseas, there was yet another blow to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit bid, as MPs rejected her deal to leave the European Union for a third time.

Gold climbed $1.50 to $1,294 an ounce while the loonie rose 45/100ths of a cent to $0.7486 US.

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Canada’s main stock market is lower so far today.

Gains in the energy sector are being offset by losses in the other heavyweight sector, financials.

Bay Street investors don’t seem impressed so far today with the unexpected growth in the Canadian economy, which jumped 0.3 per cent in January despite predictions it’d be flat. The TSX is down 43 points, sitting at 16,111.

South of the border things are looking a little brighter as investors are optimistic about the latest round of trade talks between the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China, as well as gains in the tech sector. The Dow Jones is up 133 points to 25,850.

Oil is up 65 cents to $59.95 U.S. per barrel, gold is up $4.00 to $1,299.30 an ounce, and the loonie is up more than half a cent to 74.83 cents U.S.

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A new study on what Canadians are talking about online when it comes to farming and food shows plenty of hot-button issues.

Legal cannabis was the most talked about topic over the past two years.

Other issues causing online buzz included climate change as it relates to food production, genetically modified foods and organic food and farming.

The study also found that millennials and baby boomers have similar views.

The research was led by the non-profit Canadian Centre for Food Integrity and involved discussions involving 255,000 people between January 2017 and 2019.

On the markets,

The TSX moved up 22 points to close Thursday.

Oil was off by 11 cents to $59.30 U.S. a barrel.

Gold slumped by 1.6 per cent to  to $1,289, on a three day losing streak.

The loonie weakened by 17/100ths of a cent to .7439 U.S.

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Canada’s stock exchange managed to cling to modest gains despite a dip in oil prices and a plunge in the gold sector.

The TSX moved up 22 points with gains in seven of 11 sectors.

President Donald Trump factored into a down day for crude, after he took to Twitter to voice his displeasure about supply cuts by the world’s largest producers.

Trump tweeted that it was “very important that OPEC increase the flow of oil. Trump added that “world markets are fragile,” and that the “price of oil is getting too high.”

Prices clawed back from session lows, however, with oil off by two cents to $59.39 US a barrel.

In New York, markets rose on Wall Street with the Dow adding 91 points and the Nasdaq up by 25 points.

This comes as investors digest data showing that the U.S. economy grew by 2.2 percent in the final quarter of 2018, falling short of the original estimate of 2.6 percent.

Overall, America’s economy grew by 2.9 percent last year.

A drop in consumer spending and ongoing trade tensions were among the culprits in the slowdown.

On the subject of trade, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the U.S. would be willing to lift tariffs on China as negotiations resumed today between the global economic superpowers. However, Kudlow also said that talks between Washington and Beijing could stretch out to weeks, or even months.

There was a dramatic drop in gold prices against a stronger US dollar.

Gold slumped by $21.20 to $1,292 an ounce while the loonie weakened by 18/100ths of a cent to $0.7438 US.

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Canada’s main stock market started out on a slightly higher note this morning but has given those gains back.

The materials and energy sectors are weighing things down. Meanwhile farmers in the prairies aren’t happy with the canola crisis. China is blocking massive amounts of Canadian canola from entering their country and farmers are putting the blame squarely on the prime minister.

The TSX is down 18 points to 16,114.

On Wall Street things are slightly positive as investors seems optimistic on trade talks with China as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are in Beijing to try to get a deal worked out. The Dow Jones is up 19 points at 25,645.

At press time oil is down 55 cents to $58.86 U.S. per barrel, gold is down $19.40 to $1,297.50 an ounce, and the loonie is down a shade to 74.51 cents U.S.

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Some Canadian travellers are most likely affected by news this morning that Icelandic budget airline WOW Air has abruptly gone out of business.

Passengers have been stranded in North America and Europe after the airline announced it had ceased operations.

WOW grounded at least six planes in North America that were set to leave last night from Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Detroit, New York and Baltimore.

Iceland-bound planes from seven European cities did not take off this morning.

WOW Air airline began operations in 2012 and specialized in ultra-cheap flights from 27 airports between North America and Europe.

On the markets Wednesday,

The TSX was off by 22 points to finish the day.

Crude slipped 53 cents to $59.41 U.S. a barrel.

Gold fell $4.60 to $1,310 an ounce, on a two day losing streak.

The loonie weakened by 17/100ths of a cent to $0.7456 U.S.

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A massive sell-off of pot stocks weighted Canada’s stock exchange today.

The TSX was off by 22 points, with six of 11 sectors trading lower. Among those in the red was the cannabis-dominated health care sector, which dropped 2.6 percent.

Cannabis companies went for a tumble, led lower by a 9.4 percent drop in Cronos Group shares after the company’s stock was on the receiving end of downgrades by analysts, amplified by lackluster quarterly earnings results.

Cronos had company among its pot-producing peers. Shares in Aurora Cannabis, the Green Organic Dutchman, and Hexo Corporation all fell between 3.2 and 5.9 percent, and were among the TSX’s six most actively traded companies.

Meanwhile, Canadian energy companies were pressured by a slip in oil prices, as crude slipped 55 cents to $59.39 US a barrel.

A surprise build in U.S. crude stockpiles pushed oil prices down.

Elsewhere, StatsCan is reporting today that Canada's exports were up 2.9 percent in January, mainly on the back of higher crude oil export prices, while imports rose 1.5 percent, led by higher aircraft imports.

As a result, Canada's merchandise global trade deficit shrunk from $4.8 billion in December to $4.2 billion in January.

Even so, Canada has posted its worst back-to-back trade deficit on record.

In New York, the Dow pared gains but still lost 32 points at the close while the Nasdaq was off by 48 points, as concerns over sputtering global growth once again bubbled to the surface.

Declines in the industrials, energy and tech sectors also pressured U.S. markets.

Industrial bellwether Boeing is once again facing scrutiny after one of its 737 Max 8 jets was forced to make an emergency landing in Florida due to engine problems.

Even with the latest issue, Boeing’s stock managed to rise one percent.

Gold fell $6.00 to $1,309 an ounce while the loonie weakened by 11/100ths of a cent to $0.7459 US.

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North American markets are lower so far today as investors are leery over a possible sign of recession.

That sign is a bond yields inversion.  It’s keeping people from buying up riskier investments.

Things were sluggish early on but North American markets are shedding as we reach mid-day. On Bay Street, financials are down and energy is flat. The TSX is down 56 points to 16,098.

On Wall Street the Dow Jones started off with a slight gain, but has given it all back and then some. It’s down 120 points to 25,536. At press time oil is down 24 cents to $59.70 U.S. per barrel, gold is down $3.30 to $1,311.70 an ounce and the loonie is down a quarter of a cent to 74.53 cents U.S.

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America's standing as the model for aviation-safety regulation will be on trial in Washington as congressional hearings begin into the Federal Aviation Administration's oversight of Boeing before and after two deadly crashes of its bestselling airliner.

The Senate aviation subcommittee will hear testimony Wednesday from the acting head of the FAA, and the Transportation Department inspector general Calvin Scovel who is leading a review of the FAA and Boeing.

Scovel is expected to reveal plans to significantly revamp the FAA's oversight of airplane construction this summer.

Acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell will testify that Boeing submitted an application in January spelling out planned changes to crucial flight-control software on the 737 Max, the same system suspected of playing a role in October's crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia and the March 10th plunge of an Ethiopian Airlines Max.

The crashes killed 346 people, including 18 Canadians in the Ethiopia disaster.

On the markets,

The TSX added 89 points to end a two day losing streak on Tuesday.

Crude climbed $1.23 to $59.94 a barrel.

As markets rose, gold reversed course by losing $7.60 to $1,315, while the Canadian dollar edged 12/100ths of a cent higher to .07473 cents U.S.

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Surging energy stocks helped power Canada's stock exchange today.

On the backs of gains in 10 of 11 sectors, including a 1.7 percent rise in the oil-tied energy sector, the TSX added 89 points.

After two days of losses, it was a positive day on Bay Street as investors shrugged off recession fears sparked by Friday's rare yield curve inversion, as well as ongoing jitters about slowing global economic growth.

Energy stocks were on the rise thanks to a bump in oil prices.

Heavyweight energy companies such as Canadian Natural Resources, Crescent Point and Encana Corporation saw increases ranging 2.5 and five percent.

Crude climbed $1.23 and $60.05 US a barrel, with the spotlight re-directed on OPEC supply cuts and falling U.S. inventories.

In New York, sentiment was lifted by the yield curve returning to normal, however earlier gains were pared as angst over U.S./China trade negotiations bubbled to the surface.

Even so, the Dow was up by 140 points while the Nasdaq moved up 53 points with key financial, energy, and I.T. stocks in the green.

It was a positive day on Wall Street despite U.S. housing starts slumping 8.7 percent in February, according to government figures released today.

This marks a one-and-a-half year low, according to CNBC.

On the tech beat, Apple's stock slipped one percent, even with the company unveiling new services and products, including its Apple TV app.

As markets rose today, gold reversed course by losing $7.30 to $1,315 an ounce, while the Canadian dollar edged 8/100ths of a cent higher to $.07467 US.

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