TSX drops to one-week low ahead of US data, Fed policy decision
Updated at 0946 ET
By Sruthi Shankar and Nikhil Sharma
June 11 (Reuters) -Canada's main stock index fell to a one-week low on Tuesday, dragged down by commodity-linked shares, as investors awaited key U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision later this week.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index .GSPTSE fell 0.9% to 21,869.03 points, its lowest level since June 4.
The materials index .GSPTTMT, which includes base and precious metal miners as well as fertilizer companies, fell 1.7% to lead sectoral losses, as spot silver prices XAG= tumbled nearly 2%.
Both gold miners .SPTTGD and energy indexes .SPTTEN dropped about 1.3% each, as spot gold XAU= and oil prices CLc1, LCOc1 came under pressure. GOL/
Investors are keeping a close eye on the economic projections of Fed policymakers on Wednesday, which is expected to show fewer rate cuts than they anticipated three months ago amid unexpectedly sturdy U.S. inflation.
"It looks like the Fed is probably going to take more of a hawkish tone. Therefore, we're looking for maybe at most one rate cut towards the end of the year," said Allan Small, senior investment advisor at Allan Small Financial Group with iA Private Wealth.
"That is not good for things such as commodities or gold or oil."
Traders expect the Fed to hold rates in the upcoming meeting, but are pricing in rate cuts of 40 basis points (bps) this year, with the first cut likely in September or November, according to LSEG's rate probabilities app.
After the Bank of Canada trimmed its key policy rate last week, investors expect at least two more rate cuts this year.
"The BoC may be able to cut interest rates a few times, but I don't think they're going to be able to cut a lot if the U.S. does not start to cut themselves," Small said.
BoC Governor Tiff Macklem and Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki are scheduled to speak later this week.
In corporate news, e-commerce platform Shopify SHOP.TO rose 1% after J.P. Morgan started coverage with an "overweight" rating.
Enghouse Systems ENGH.TO climbed 3.4% after the software firm posted second-quarter results.
Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
