S&P/TSX composite hits highest close since March on strength of financials sector

The TSX closed up 123.91 points on Wednesday

Canada’s main stock index recovered from early trading weakness to move to its highest closing in nearly three months on the strength of the heavyweight financials sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 123.91 points at 15,272.03, the highest level since March 6.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 553.16 points at 25,548.27. The S&P 500 index was up 44.36 points at 3,036.13, while the Nasdaq composite was up 72.14 points at 9,412.36.

The Canadian dollar traded for US72.57¢ compared with an average of US72.44¢ on Tuesday.

The July crude contract was down US$1.54 at US$32.81 per barrel and the July natural gas contract was down 5.9 cents at nearly US$1.89 per mmBTU.

The August gold contract was down US$1.40 at US$1,726.80 an ounce and the July copper contract was down 3.65 cents at US$2.38 a pound.