Dear Friends,
Tangents: Happy Friday! Wishing you a bright and relaxing Midsummer weekendđżâď¸.
June 19,1837: With the death of William IV, Victoria becomes queen of the United Kingdom, and during her reign the country became the worldâs most powerful empire.
June 19,1846: Alexander Joy Cartwright arranged a baseball game between the New York Knickerbockers and the New York Nine at Hoboken, New Jerseyâthe first baseball game to use the set of rules on which todayâs game is based.
June 19,1903: American automobile-racing driver Barney Oldfield accomplished the first mile-a-minute performance in a car, at Indianapolis, Indiana.
June 19,1910: The first Fatherâs Day was celebrated, in Spokane, Washington. Wishing all fathers a Happy Fatherâs Day this Sunday .
On this day 1964: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved after an 83-day filibuster in the U.S. Senate.
Australian actress Nicole Kidmanâwho was known for her considerable range and versatility, as well as for her glamorous looks and cool demeanorâwas born in Hawaii. b, 1967
American playwright and screenwriter Lillian Hellmanâwhose dramas forcefully attacked injustice, exploitation, and selfishnessâwas born in New Orleans, Louisiana. b, 1905
Watch bison herd defend a newborn calf from wolf attack in a primeval Polish forest
Researchers have captured first-of-its-kind footage of a wolf attack on European bison in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest. The recording shifts our understanding of predator-prey interactions in this region.
Our ancient four-legged ancestors didn’t have an amphibian-like life cycle when they began walking on land, according to a new study of rare fossils found near Chicago.
Estrogen levels in both the male and female brain may shape memory’s resilience in face of stress
Traumatic experiences can cause memory problems, and estrogen may be a key factor that shapes the brain’s resilience against such stressors, a mouse study finds.
CĂ´te d’Azur, France â Kat Jamieson slid open the doors to her poolside hotel room in Saint-Tropez and was greeted with an unexpected sight: cameras and a film crew surrounding actor Laura Dern, who washolding court in front of the rippling blue water.
Shaping the shore: Inside Busanâs sand festival
Haeundaeâs golden sand beach becomes a canvas as Busan hosts its 20th Sand Festival, where towering sculptures showcase coastal beauty and craftsmanship.
đŚ Why canât we just get rid of mosquitoes? One fed-up community is trying
For the avid gardener in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC, stepping out the front door in the summer meant being assaulted by hordes of those flying hypodermic needles, ready to bore into her skin and leave itchy welts â and sometimes serious infections like malaria or Zika â behind.
Startling science: Taking an omega-3 supplement doesnât boost memory or cognition
If youâre taking an omega-3 fish oil or algae supplement to stave off Alzheimerâs disease and dementia, take note: A new clinical trial finds these supplements did nothing to improve memory, cognition or brain cell loss.
Wyndham Clark seizes on changing nature of Shinnecock to lead US Open
Southampton, New YorkAP â Whatever dread Wyndham Clark felt when he saw the tee times and the forecast for the U.S. Open gave way to hope Thursday, and he still hadnât even arrived at Shinnecock Hills.
PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Southampton, UK
Two of Europeâs largest quay cranes, standing nearly 150 metres (500ft) high, arrive at DP Worldâs Southampton port
Photograph: Handout
Boston, US
Norway fans, who are in the city for the World Cup, pretend to row a Viking longship
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Hong Kong, China
Competitors splash each other during the dragon boat festival
Photograph: Chan Long Hei/AP
Market Closes for June 19th, 2026
| Market Index |
Close | Change |
| Dow Jones |
Market
Closed |
N/A |
| N/A | ||
| S&P 500 | Market
Closed |
N/A |
| N/A | ||
| NASDAQ | Market
Closed |
N/A |
| N/A | ||
| TSX | 34857.34 | -111.92
-0.32% |
International Markets
| Market Index |
Close | Change |
| NIKKEI | 71250.06 | +196.57 |
| +0.28% | ||
| HANG SENG |
Market
Closed |
N/A |
| N/A | ||
| SEN SEX | 76802.90 | -607.08 |
| -0.78% | ||
| FTSE 100* | 10363.27 | -36.43 |
| -0.35% |
Bonds
| Bonds | % Yield | Previous % Yield |
| CND. 10 Year Bond |
3.398 | 3.373 |
| CND. 30 Year Bond |
3.812 | 3.790 |
| U.S. 10 Year Bond |
Market
Closed |
4.4533 |
| U.S. 30 Year Bond |
Market
Closed |
4.8979 |
| BOC Close | Today | Previous |
| Canadian $ | 0.7063 | 0.7074 |
| US $ |
1.4158 | 1.4134 |
| Euro Rate 1 Euro= |
Inverse | |
| Canadian $ | 0.6154 | 1.6249 |
| US $ |
0.8714 | 1.1475 |
Commodities
| Gold | Close | Previous |
| London Gold Fix |
4236.15 | 4341.85 |
| Oil | ||
| WTI Crude Future | Market
Closed |
76.60 |
Market Commentary:
đCanada đŚ
By Bloomberg Automation
(Bloomberg) — The S&P/TSX Composite fell for the third day, dropping 0.3%, or 111.92 to 34,857.34 in Toronto.
The index dropped to the lowest closing level since June 11.
Alamos Gold Inc. contributed the most to the index decline and had the largest move, decreasing 18.4%.
Today, 119 of 220 shares fell, while 93 rose; 7 of 11 sectors were lower, led by materials stocks.
Insights
* This quarter, the index rose 6.4%
* So far this week, the index was little changed
* The index advanced 32% in the past 52 weeks. The MSCI AC Americas Index gained 25% in the same period
* The S&P/TSX Composite is 2.2% below its 52-week high on June 17, 2026 and 31.8% above its low on June 19, 2025
* S&P/TSX Composite is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.6 on a trailing basis and 16.6 times estimated earnings of its members for the coming year
* The index’s dividend yield is 2.1% on a trailing 12-month basis
* S&P/TSX Composite’s members have a total market capitalization of C$5.51t
* 30-day price volatility fell to 14.32% compared with 14.36% in the previous session and the average of 13.58% over the past month
Index Points
Materials | -124.7073| -2.1| 12/45
Information Technology| -9.0822| -0.4| 6/2
Consumer Staples | -6.0807| -0.5| 2/7
Financials | -5.8999| 0.0| 7/17
Utilities | -5.1385| -0.4| 6/8
Communication Services| -2.1040| -0.3| 3/2
Health Care | -0.3303| -0.4| 1/3
Consumer Discretionary| 0.2311| 0.0| 3/6
Real Estate | 0.4571| 0.1| 12/6
Industrials | 7.5163| 0.2| 12/17
Energy | 33.2027| 0.6| 29/6
Alamos Gold | -27.8700| -18.4| 299.9| -20.9
Wheaton Precious Metals | -26.2900| -4.8| 191.1| 2.1
Shopify | -18.5400| -1.4| 108.2| -31.4
TD Bank | 8.2260| 0.4| 120.1| 30.9
Canadian Natural Resources | 10.3500| 1.2| -25.5| 26.2
CIBC | 15.2200| 1.5| 162.5| 28.8
Alamos Gold | -18.4| -27.8700| 299.9| -20.9
Wheaton PreciousMetals | -4.8| -26.2900| 191.1| 2.1
Torex Gold Resources | -4.2| -1.6810| 56.2| -11.2
(MT Newswires)
The Toronto Stock Exchange dropped on Friday as investors weighed fresh economic data pointing to resilient consumer spending and an improving housing market, while lower gold prices dampened sentiment.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 101.92 points, or 0.3%, to 34,857.34, as losses in battery metals, health care and utilities stocks outweighed gains in the energy, industrials and technology sectors.
Energy led gainers, up 0.67%, with Industrials and Information and Technology, up 0.21% and 0.31%, respectively.
Battery Metals Index led decliners, down 2.69%, with Health Care, down 0.70%, Utilities, down 0.41%, Telecom, down 0.24%, Base Metals, down 0.21%, and Financial, down 0.05%.
In commodities, gold prices fell on Friday even as the dollar retreated from a 13-month high reached after the Federal Reserve indicated it may raise interest rates to curb rising inflation. Gold for July delivery was last seen down 1.7% to US$4,172.90 per ounce.
Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher on Friday as the postponement of U.S.-Iran talks and renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon raised concerns about stability in the Middle East and the durability of a recently reached ceasefire.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil for July delivery was last seen up 1.2% to US$77.54 per barrel, while August Brent oil was up 0.9% to US$80.57.
On the economic front, fresh data showed Canadian consumer spending remained resilient in April and appeared to strengthen further in May.
Canada’s retail sales rose 0.5% month over month to $73.0 billion in April, in line with expectations, while preliminary data for May indicates a strengthening of consumer spending amid a surge in gasoline prices, according to the country’s statistical agency.
April’s sales were up in five of nine subsectors, led by increases at gasoline stations and fuel vendors, noted Statistics Canada in a statement.
The April retail sales increase was similar to the 0.6% month-over-month consensus gain figure provided by MUFG in a note earlier Friday.
Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were down 0.7% month over month in April.
StatsCan also provided an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 1.0% month over month in May.
Retail sales surged in six provinces in April.
The largest provincial increase in dollar terms was observed in Ontario (+0.5%), boosted by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
On Friday’s retail sales data, CIBC Economics said rising fuel costs are weighing on Canadian household spending, with higher gasoline prices eroding real consumption through the spring.
Overall, consumer spending appears to have stalled in Q2 after a strong start to the year, with elevated pump prices squeezing discretionary demand, according to CIBC.
Still, the recent pullback in fuel prices and additional government support for households are likely to provide a cushion for spending later in the year, pointed out Andrew Grantham at CIBC.
Canada’s housing resale market is showing signs of recovery, with recent gains largely fueled by a resurgence in activity in the province of Ontario, the country’s largest real estate market, said National Bank of Canada Capital Markets in a note.
Home sales in Canada jumped by 5.5% from April to May, the second rise in a row following five months of decline, wrote the bank.
This "robust" advance in sales was driven by increases in eight of the 10 provinces.
Ontario, which saw an 8.8% month-over-month climb in sales, contributed the bulk of the national improvement, stated National Bank.
According to market data, 71% of the increase in home sales recorded between March and May originated in Ontario.
Besides, in a bid to boost the economy, Canada on Friday imposed a temporary 10% tariff on imports of canned vegetables, excluding shipments from the United States, according to a Reuters report.
The measure is seen as a move aimed at supporting domestic producers facing increased competitive pressures.
The tax takes effect immediately and will remain in place for up to 200 days.
Imports from Mexico, Israel, Chile and certain developing countries are exempt under Canada’s existing trade obligations, the Finance Department said.
US
U.S. markets are closed today in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday in the United States.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Be magnificent!
As ever,
Shima
"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is how much I’ve grown." — Andre Agassi
Shima Zangeneh
Assistant to Carolann Steinhoff
Queensbury Securities Inc.
340A – 730 View Street
Victoria BC V8W 3Y7
Tel: 778-430-5851
Fax: 778-430-5828