TSX adds to weekly winning streak as metal prices climb
TSX ends up 0.5% at 24,822.54
For the week, the index adds 1.4%
Materials sector rises 3.2%
IAMGOLD jumps 16.6%
Updates at market close
By Fergal Smith
Oct 18 (Reuters) -Canada's main stock notched on Friday its third straight day of record closing highs, overcoming uncertainty around the Middle East conflict and the upcoming U.S. election, as metal mining shares jumped on higher gold and copper prices.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended up 132.06 points, or 0.5%, at 24,822.54.
For the week, the index added 1.4%. That's its sixth straight weekly gain, which is the longest such stretch since April.
"It's a stealth rally," said Brandon Michael, senior investment analyst at ABC Funds. "Everyone is so focused on the noise — the looming U.S. election, geopolitics - and they’re very skeptical."
Some analysts have worried that stretched valuations for some high-flying technology stocks and potential volatility around the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election could lead to a market pullback.
U.S. benchmark the S&P 500 has advanced nearly 23% since the start of the year and the TSX is up 18.4% as central banks globally, including the Bank of Canada, began easing campaigns.
The BoC is widely expected to reduce its key policy rate by 50 basis points on Wednesday, which would be the first super-sized reduction in 15 years outside of the pandemic era.
"The earnings are beating expectations, the economy is charging ahead, and there remains a massive amount of cash on the sidelines ready to be deployed," Michael said.
The materials sector rose 3.2% as new measures to boost liquidity in the Chinese stock market helped drive up copper prices, while gold extended its record-setting run.
IAMGOLD Corp IMG.TO was a standout, with its shares jumping 16.6% to reach a seven-year high.
Consumer discretionary .GSPTTCD added 0.5%, supported by a 2.9% rise in the shares of auto parts supplier Magna International Inc MG.TO.
Energy limited the market's advance. The sector fell 0.4% as the price of oil settled 2.1% lower.
Reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto and Nikhil Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Alistair Bell
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