Canadian Financial Close: 2018 not a banner year for stock markets

By Commodity News Service Canada

WINNIPEG, Dec. 31 (CNS Canada) – The Canadian dollar was virtually unchanged at market near close Monday, as the Bank of Canada closed early ahead of the New Year’s holiday.
The dollar finished the day at US$0.7330 or US$1=C$1.3642, which compares with Friday’s close of US$0.7332 or C$1.3638.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed Monday at 14,291.09.00 up by 69.09 points or 0.49 per cent.
Trading on the stock markets in the United States was up Monday as well. The Dow Jones led the way with an increase of 0.83 per cent, while the S&P 500 rose 0.44 per cent and the NASDAQ grew by 0.37 per cent.

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Although trading near the end of Monday on the plus side, this December marked the worst December for trading since the Great Depression, the worst month since February 2009 and the worst year since 2008. Reasons for the rough year include the U.S./China trade war, Brexit, the fall in oil price because of over production, and criticisms leveled at the U.S. Federal Reserve by President Donald Trump.
All North American stock markets will be closed for the Jan. 1 holiday.
Oil was up Monday as West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 57 cents to close at US$45.90 per barrel.
Gold was up Monday by US$1.40 to US$1,284.40 per ounce.

Canada’s agricultural sector faired as follows:

AGT Food and Ingredients———up $ 0.36 at $ 16.69
Buhler Industries—————-unchanged at $ 3.86
Linamar Corp.——————–up $ 0.15 at $ 45.21
Maple Leaf Foods—————–up $ 0.19 at $ 27.31

Nutrien Ltd.———————up $ 0.76 at $ 63.88
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc.—-up $ 0.13 at $ 44.48
Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc.–up $ 0.21 at $ 8.89

(All figures are in Canadian dollars.)