The S&P/TSX Composite Index advanced 0.5% on Friday to finish at 35,369, buoyed by strength in financial, mining, and technology shares. A pause in the recent oil rally helped ease energy-driven inflation worries, pushing bond yields lower and providing support to financials and the broader equity market.
Among major banks, TD Bank added 0.7%, BMO and Scotiabank each rose 0.7%, CIBC gained 0.9%, and Brookfield climbed 1.2%. Firming gold prices underpinned the mining sector, with Agnico Eagle up 0.7% and WPM advancing 1.5%.
In technology, Shopify rose 1.6% and Constellation Software jumped 4%. By contrast, Celestica slumped 8.7%, mirroring a broader selloff in U.S. semiconductor names.
Energy stocks lagged as crude prices retreated from recent highs. Canadian Natural slipped 1.1%, Suncor declined 0.7%, and Cenovus lost 1.4% ahead of its earnings release scheduled for July 29.
