Today in the markets
U.S. stocks finished modestly higher Wednesday as investors welcomed the Gaza truce. But lack of a deal to release emergency aid to Greece limited the market’s advance.
Canada’s main index was also up, led by financial stocks ahead of bank earnings and gains in commodity shares on firm prices for oil and precious metals.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 53.78 points to 12,100.06, while the TSX Venture Exchange gained 0.36 points to close at 1,242.66.
Active stocks included Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE, Stock Forum), which fell 3.7% to $82.83 after the agriculture-equipment manufacturer reported earnings that came in below consensus estimates.
Salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM, Stock Forum) rose 8.8% to $158.78 after the customer-management software provider projected sales and profit that met expectations.
In Canada, Research In Motion Ltd. (TSX: T.RIM, Stock Forum) (NASDAQ: RIMM, Stock Forum) appears to be righting itself. The BlackBerry maker got a boost when one of its most influential critics raised his rating on the stock ahead of the launch of RIM's make-or-break new line of BlackBerry 10 devices. RIM stock gained 5.5% a share to close at $10.23.
Zambia has granted environmental approval to First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSX: T.FM, Stock Forum) for a planned 300,000 tonnes per year $640-million copper smelter at its Kansanshi mine license area, the environmental management agency said. First Quantum shares fell 1.1% to $21.57
For news about small stocks that made big moves in Wednesday’s trading, please read the
Stockhouse Canadian Small and Micro-cap Stock Report