Investing.com – Canada stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Materials, IT and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Toronto, the S&P/TSX Composite rose 0.06%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/TSX Composite were Sandstorm Gold Ltd . (TSX:SSL), which rose 8.58% or 0.660 points to trade at 8.350 at the close. Meanwhile, First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSX:FR) added 6.25% or 0.76 points to end at 12.92 and Alacer Gold Corp (TSX:ASR) was up 6.07% or 0.290 points to 5.070 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSX:ACB), which fell 6.51% or 0.63 points to trade at 9.05 at the close. Vermilion Energy Inc . (TSX:VET) declined 4.75% or 1.31 points to end at 26.28 and NuVista Energy Ltd . (TSX:NVA) was down 4.18% or 0.110 points to 2.520.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Toronto Stock Exchange by 525 to 513 and 118 ended unchanged.
Shares in Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (TSX:SSL) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 8.58% or 0.660 to 8.350. Shares in First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSX:FR) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 6.25% or 0.76 to 12.92. Shares in Vermilion Energy Inc. (TSX:VET) fell to 5-year lows; falling 4.75% or 1.31 to 26.28. Shares in Alacer Gold Corp (TSX:ASR) rose to 5-year highs; rising 6.07% or 0.290 to 5.070.
The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/TSX Composite options, was down 1.86% to 10.54.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 1.70% or 24.20 to $1447.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 1.88% or 1.07 to hit $55.71 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract rose 0.14% or 0.09 to trade at $62.47 a barrel.
CAD/USD was unchanged 0.00% to 0.7675, while CAD/EUR rose 0.00% to 0.6805.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.53% at 96.343.