TORONTO, March 1 (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar
climbed against the U.S. currency for the fourth straight day on
Thursday, hitting its highest level of the year, spurred by
upbeat U.S. and Chinese economic data.

U.S. jobless claims data that bolstered views of a
strengthening labor market and solid monthly sales from U.S.
chain stores boosted stock markets and gave investors confidence
to move away from safe-haven government debt and the greenback.

TORONTO, Feb 29 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index
ended lower on Wednesday with materials shares hit as gold
prices weakened after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
failed to provide hints of further monetary stimulus, which sent
the U.S. dollar sharply higher.

The key materials sector, which accounts for some 20 percent
of the broader Toronto index, was down 2.8 percent to lead the
market lower. Barrick Gold fell 3.9 percent to C$47.34
and Goldcorp sank 3.6 percent to C$47.97 on weaker gold
prices.

TORONTO, Feb 29 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index
turned lower on Wednesday morning as materials issues faltered
on weak gold prices, which skidded after comments by U.S.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke helped to push up the U.S.
dollar.

The key materials sector, which accounts for some 20 percent
of the broader Toronto index, was down 2.4 percent to lead the
market lower. Barrick Gold fell nearly 3 percent to
C$47.79 and Goldcorp sank 3 percent to C$48.10 on weaker
gold prices.

TORONTO, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index
climbed on Tuesday as resource issues gained on higher metals
prices and U.S. confidence data helped lift market sentiment.

The index’s heavily weighted materials group led the gains,
climbing 1.4 percent as mining issues benefited from rises in
gold, silver and copper prices.

TORONTO, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index
finished lower on Monday as energy issues fell in tandem with
oil prices after G20 officials warned about the risks to global
growth from the rising cost of crude.

Energy issues, which represent some 20 percent of the
Toronto index, dropped 1.2 percent as oil prices pulled back
after a string of higher settlements.
Suncor Energy fell 2.2 percent to C$36.16, while Nexen
sank 2.9 percent to C$20.56.

TORONTO, Feb 23 (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar
climbed against the U.S. currency on Thursday as upbeat U.S.
labor market data spurred investor optimism the world’s top
economy was slowly mending.

The U.S. data showed new claims for unemployment benefits
held at their lowest level since the early days of the 2008-09
recession.

TORONTO, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Canada will raise its
objections to some elements of the U.S. Volcker rule with U.S.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner at a weekend meeting of Group of
20 policymakers, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on
Thursday.

“The issue that the Volcker rule is attempting to address is
not particularly clear with the Canadian financial institutions.
It kind of misses the mark when you look at Canadian financial
institutions which were not very much involved in proprietary
trading,” Flaherty told reporters in Toronto.

TORONTO, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Canada’s dollar sank
against its U.S counterpart on Wednesday as weak European and
Chinese economic data sapped investor appetite for riskier
assets, while worries about Greece continued to infuse an
element of uncertainty.

Concerns revolved around the health of the euro zone economy
as data showed the services sector shrank this month along with
manufacturing. The weakness was echoed in China, where data
showed export orders fell in their worst performance in eight
months.

TORONTO, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Fewer fines and jail
sentences were imposed for Canadian securities offenses last
year, but regulators stepped up their use of trading bans and
asset freezes in a preemptive effort to contain abuse.

In a report released on Wednesday, the Canadian Securities
Administrators said courts imposed eight jail sentences for
offenses related to securities law and imposed some C$52 million
($52 million) in fines and administrative penalties.

TORONTO, Feb 22 (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar
retreated against its U.S counterpart on Wednesday as weak euro
zone and China data sapped investor appetite for riskier assets.

European February PMIs came in weaker than expected and a
preliminary survey of China’s industrial activity showed the
overall manufacturing sector contracting for a fourth-straight
month. Both sets of data helped to push down global equity
markets. [ID: