Saturday, August 30th, 2025
Home »Stocks and Bonds » World » Toronto stocks led by oils and Masonite bid

  • News Desk
  • Feb 20th, 2005
  • Comments Off on Toronto stocks led by oils and Masonite bid
Toronto stocks finished higher on Friday as rising oil prices lifted energy shares and a boosted take-over offer for Masonite International helped push up industrial issues. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index added 39.49 points, or 0.41 percent, to finish at 9,658.75. For the week, the market gained 1.05 percent, adding to a string of recent rises and again closing at the highest level since December 2000.

"Investors continue to be torn between the fact that the group has done really well over the past year, so there is the temptation to take profits off the table," said Elvis Picardo, chief market strategist at Global Securities.

"But, against that, you've got to weigh the fact that earnings have gone really strongly and energy prices continue to be pretty high."

Six of Toronto's 10 main subindexes finished higher, with the energy group leading the way and ending a volatile week with a 1.6 percent gain on the day.

Oil rose 81 cents to $48.35 a barrel in New York on Friday on expectations of OPEC production cuts.

Shell Canada rose C$4.03, or 5.06 percent, to C$83.63, making it the leading gainer on the exchange.

Canadian Natural Resources rose C$2.15, or 3.28 percent, to finish at C$67.65.

The industrials group rose 0.44 percent with component Masonite International one of the most active stocks.

It ended C$2.04, or 5.11 percent, higher at C$41.93 after a Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co affiliate raised its take-over offer for Masonite to C$42.25 a share from C$40.20.

Consumer staples rose 1.49 percent after frozen dessert maker Coolbrands International Inc said it had settled pending litigation with Weight Watchers International Inc.

"Litigation obviously is an overhang on the stock. Any time that lifts it's usually a positive," Picardo said.

Coolbrands rose 26 Canadian cents, or 2.96 percent, to C$9.03. Also in the sector, Shoppers Drug Mart rose C$1.33, or 3.21 percent, to C$42.75.

Tech stocks fell 0.53 percent, pulled down by bellwether Nortel Networks Corp, which said it had nothing new to report in its regular market update. Some analysts had expected it would set dates for filings of its pending financial results. Nortel retreated 6 Canadian cents, or 1.59 percent, to C$3.71. Research In Motion fell C$1.58, or 1.71 percent, to C$90.93. Momentum was negative with 737 issues declining and 682 advancing. Volume was nearly 298 million shares worth C$4.2 billion.

The blue-chip S&P/TSX 60 index rose 3 points, or 0.57 percent, to close at 532.82.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 30.96 points, or 0.29 percent, to 10,785.22. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 2.72 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,058.62.

Copyright Reuters, 2005


the author

Top
Close
Close