CANADA STOCKS-TSX increases as financial services benefit from solid employment data

(Reuters) – Canada's leading stock market index edged up on Friday as financial stocks rose after strong domestic jobs statistics, which saw a fourth rise in interest rates next week.

* At 10:16 (ET) (14:16 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S & P / TSX Composite Index rose 20.57 points, or 0.13%, to 16 287.18.

* The most recent data show that the Canadian economy added 31,800 jobs in June, while a Reuters survey projected an increase of 24,000 jobs, confirming that the Bank of Canada will increase its rates. of interest next week.

* Another report shows that the country's trade deficit has increased following a sharp rise in airline and gasoline imports.

* Eight of the 11 major sectors of the index were higher, due to an increase of 0.2% in the heavyweight financial services sector.

* The 1.1% increase in Brookfield Asset Management and the increase of nearly 0.2% in the shares of Bank of Montreal and Bank of Nova Scotia were the most supportive. financial index.

* The telecom sector, which gained 0.67%, also supported the market. BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications were the primary drivers of the sector.

* The energy sector climbed 0.2%. US crude prices rose 0.5% per barrel while Brent crude lost 0.6%.

* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metal mines, lost 0.2%, as gold futures fell 0.2% to $ 1,254.4 l & # 39; ounce. 25.55

* Transcontinental Inc., which jumped 3.2%, and Cogeco Communications, which rose 3% after National Bank of Canada outperformed the stock to "outperform".

* Centerra Gold fell 3.8%, the highest rate on the TSX, while the second largest decline was Enerflex, down 2.5%.

* The most traded shares in volume were Aurora Cannabis, Bombardier B and Canopy Growth Co.

* On the Toronto Stock Exchange, 130 issues were higher, while 104 issues declined for a ratio of 1 , 25 against 1, which favored gains, with 20.06 million shares traded.

* The TSX posted seven new highs of 52 weeks and five new lows.

* For all Canadian issues, there were thirteen new highs of 52 weeks and nine new lows, with a total volume of 39.52 million shares. (Report by Medha Singh in Bangalore, edited by Arun Koyyur)