Equities<\/p>\n
Global markets swung between gains and losses as \u200cinvestors remained concerned about the lack of progress toward a resolution to the Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n
Wall Street futures were mixed after major North American markets closed marginally lower yesterday.<\/p>\n
TSX futures were in negative territory.<\/p>\n
On Wall Street, markets are watching earnings from Procter & Gamble Co. and Norfolk Southern Corp. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe week has ended with an escalation after a de-escalation and that has taken the edge off sentiment,\u201d said Rory McPherson, chief market strategist at financial planning firm Wren Sterling.<\/p>\n
Overseas, the pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.95 per cent in morning trading. Britain\u2019s FTSE 100 slid 0.54 per cent, Germany\u2019s DAX declined 0.47 per cent and France\u2019s CAC 40 fell 1.07 per cent.<\/p>\n
In Asia, Japan\u2019s Nikkei closed 0.97 per cent higher, while Hong Kong\u2019s Hang Seng advanced 0.24 per cent. <\/p>\n
Commodities<\/p>\n
Oil prices rose on concerns of a \u200brenewed military escalation in the Middle \u200cEast after Iran released footage of commandos boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, and a lack of progress in re-opening the \u2060key waterway.<\/p>\n
Brent crude futures were up 1.63 per cent \u200cto US$106.80 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures rose 1.36 per cent to US$97.15.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s set to \u2060be fresh financial pain ahead as key \u200bshipments from the region remain blocked,\u201d said Susannah Streeter, chief investment \u2060strategist at UK investment service Wealth Club. \u201dThat is set to keep costs elevated for a \u200cvast array of commodities.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other commodities, spot gold was down 0.2 per cent to US$4,685.23 an ounce. U.S. \u200cgold futures for June delivery fell 0.5 per cent to US$4,700.50.<\/p>\n
Currencies and bonds<\/p>\n
The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart.<\/p>\n
The day range on the loonie was 72.90 US cents to 73.07 US cents in early trading. The Canadian dollar was up about 1.5 per cent against the greenback over the past month. <\/p>\n
The U.S. dollar index, which weighs the greenback against a group of currencies, was little changed at 98.78. The U.S. dollar traded at $1.3688. <\/p>\n
The euro inched up 0.02 per cent to US$1.1688. The British pound climbed 0.07 per cent to US$1.3476. <\/p>\n
In bonds, the yield on the U.S. 10-year note was last up at 4.334 per cent.<\/p>\n
Other corporate news<\/p>\n