Canada’s main stock index fell on Wednesday, after of the Bank of Canada held interest rates at a 22-year high of 5 per cent, as economists expected. The TSX was dragged down by financial, utilities and technology stocks while the energy sector grew on rising oil prices in the face of rising Israel-Iran tensions.
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U.S. markets also tumbled after a hot inflation reading pushed back hopes of an interest rate cut in June by the Federal Reserve. The March reading on the consumer price index rose 0.4 per cent for the month and 3.5 per cent year-over-year, versus economists’ estimates of a 0.3 per cent monthly increase and 3.4 per cent year-over-year.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.07 cents compared with 73.69 cents U.S. on Tuesday.
U.S. crude futures traded $0.97 higher at $86.20 a barrel, and the Brent contract added $1.03 to $90.45 a barrel.
The price of gold was down US$26.78 to US$2,328.11.
In world markets, the Nikkei was down 191.32 points to 39,581.81, the Hang Seng was up 311.10 points to 17,139.17, the FTSE was up 25.20 points to 7,959.99, and the DAX was up 19.27 points to 18,095.96.
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