By Robb M. Stewart


Shares on Canada's main exchange continued to push higher, lifting the benchmark index to a fresh high as a softer employment report did little to dampen investor spirits.

In midday trading, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index was 0.9% higher at 32655.39. That has it on track to finish the first full trading week of the year with a gain of 2.4%.

Mining and finance stocks led broad gains, more than making up for weakness in the transportation and commercial services sectors.

The blue-chip S&P/TSX 60 was ahead 0.7% at 1910.14.

With gold and silver prices up for the week so far, and oil prices advancing for a second straight session, resources stocks firmed broadly. Agnico Eagle gained 1.9% to $190.00 and First Quantu Minerals was up 4.5% to $28.59, while Canadian Natural Resources rose 1.3% to $31.96 and Suncor Energy advanced 1.9% to $46.61.

Most of the major banks were higher, led by a 1% increase for National Bank of Canada.


Other market movers:

Aritzia's shares rose 3.6% to C$129.78 on the back of record quarterly revenue for the clothing designer and a lift in its sales target for the fiscal year following a strong holiday season.

Ag Growth International's shares rallied 25% to C$29.66 after the company logged stronger than expected earnings thanks to ongoing international commercial demand and a slightly firmer order book heading into the final quarter of last year.

Algoma Steel retreated 0.7% to C$5.86 after the steelmaker forecast sharply lower steel shipments and a widened loss in the final quarter of last year as the Trump administration's tariffs continued to bite.


Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-09-26 1306ET