The S&P/TSX Composite Index advanced 0.4% to close at 34,980 on Friday, lifted by strength in the mining and technology sectors. Mining stocks benefited from higher gold prices, supported by a weaker US dollar and waning expectations of additional Federal Reserve interest rate hikes following the latest PCE inflation data. Sentiment was further bolstered as Canada and Japan moved to deepen cooperation on mining projects, including potential joint stockpiling arrangements. Barrick Gold gained 1.6%, while Franco-Nevada climbed 2.3%.
In technology, Shopify rallied 4.6%, driven by enthusiasm around its Spring ’26 product rollout, and Constellation Software added 1.9%. By contrast, Celestica dropped 6.6%, mirroring weakness in US tech shares on Wall Street.
The financial sector lagged, with banking stocks edging lower amid heightened geopolitical tensions. President Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by targeting cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Iran had reiterated its right to control shipping through the strategic waterway and warned Gulf states against aligning with the US, following an attack on a vessel near Oman the previous day.
