TSX Continues Positive Amid Rate Hopes

Canada's main stock index scaled an all-time high on Wednesday, bolstered by ongoing optimism surrounding a September U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut. The TSX Composite Index was off its highs of the morning, but still ahead 47.55 points to pause for lunch Wednesday at 27,968.81 The Canadian dollar nicked up 0.03 cents to 72.64 cents U.S. ON BAYSTREET The TSX Venture Exchange slipped 0.56 points to 788.04. Seven of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher in the early afternoon, with consumer discretionary stocks ahead 1.8%, telecoms up 1.3%, and real-estate better by 0.7%. The five laggards were weighed most by consumer staples, dipping 1.2%, while energy backed off 1.1%, and health-care lost 1%. ON WALLSTREET Stocks rose Wednesday, adding to their recent momentum as expectations for lower U.S. Federal Reserve rates continue driving the major indexes to all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average popped 339.77 points to 44,798.38. The S&P 500 index climbed 6.94 points to 6,452.70, yet another all-time record. The NASDAQ added 52.47 points to 21,734.38. AMD popped more than 6% to lead gains in tech. Apple also advanced about 1%. Shares of Paramount Skydance soared more than 22%, putting the media company on pace for its best day since March 2020. Traders are pricing in a 99% chance of a rate cut at the Federal Reserve’s September meeting. Thursday’s producer price index report on wholesale inflation will add another piece of the economic picture. The report comes ahead of the Fed’s Jackson Hole meeting on Aug. 21-23, which could also help shape expectations for the central bank’s next policy move. Prices for 10-year Treasury moved upward Wednesday, lowering yields to 4.23% from Tuesday’s 4.29%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions. Oil prices slid $1.08 to $62.09 U.S. a barrel. Gold prices regained $11.90 to $3,410.90 U.S. an ounce.