TSX hits record high as markets bet on potential Fed rate cut
Updated at 10:10 a.m. ET/ 14:10 GMT
By Nikhil Sharma
Sept 17 (Reuters) -Canada's main stock index hit another record high on Tuesday, aided by energy stocks, as investors assessed benign domestic annual inflation data amid market optimism around an outsizedpolicy cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve this week.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 72.93 points, or 0.31%, at 23,775 and was poised for its fourth consecutiverecord closing session if gains hold.
Markets kept their focus on the U.S. Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decision on Wednesday, where the policymakers are expected to offer the firstinterest rate cut in four years.
While the extent of the rate cut is still debatable, markets are leaning more towards a bigger half-point reduction, odds of which stand at 67%. 0#FEDWATCH
"The market will be happy with a fifty basis point cut as long as there's no indication of prolonged or deeper weakness in the economic environment than the market expects," said Kevin Headland, Co-chief investment strategist at Manulife Investment Management.
Domestic markets assessed Canada's annual inflation rate, which cooled to 2% in August, reaching the Bank of Canada's target.
At the last policy meeting earlier this month, the BoC Governor, Tiff Macklem , warned against the risk of inflation falling below its target as economic growth was weak.
Canadian swaps market sees a 43% chance of a 50-basis-point interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada in October.
Meanwhile, on TSX, the energy sector led the sectoral gains .SPTTEN that rose 0.6%, tracking a rise in oil prices.
Crude oil and gold are among Canada's top exports.
In oil markets, prices indicated by the West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 rose 1.14%. Brent crude LCOc1 rose 0.76% O/R. Gold XAU= was down 0.2%.
The TSX is up 13.3% for the year.
Reporting by Nikhil Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Tasim Zahid
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