Canada's main stock index was little changed on Friday, as a drop in energy shares prompted by soft Chinese economic data was offset by gains in auto parts maker Magna International Inc and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan.
The S&P/TSX Composite index moved into the green 32.76 points to end Friday at 11,890.89
The Canadian dollar moved lower by 0.01 cents to 100.90 cents U.S.
Canadian stocks had followed other global stocks higher earlier in the week as investors hoped for more central bank action in Europe, while some investors also bet on further monetary easing in China, the world's second largest economy.
But a big undershoot in China's July exports soured the mood for the resource-heavy Toronto index on Friday, as concern about slower commodity demand offset hopes for stimulus measures.
Energy stocks were by far the biggest drag on the index on Friday, as oil prices fell on data showing China's total exports grew less than forecast and its crude oil imports fell in July. Weaker global oil demand forecasts from the International Energy Agency also weighed.
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, down 1.4% to $30.95, and Suncor Energy Inc, down 0.3% to $31.78, played the biggest role of any two stocks in weighing on the market.
Stocks that helped keep the index buoyant included fertilizer company Potash Corp. It jumped 1% to $43.16 as corn futures set an all-time high after the U.S. government slashed the size of the crop in the world's top grain exporter.
Auto parts manufacturer Magna International rose 5.1% to $43.90 after reporting a sharp jump in profit and saying it would buy a controlling stake in an electric car business.
On the economic ledger, Statistics Canada reported this morning that employment in July declined by 30,000, the result of losses in part-time work. The unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 7.3%.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange faded 2.05 points to 1,191. The Nasdaq Canada index added 3.03 points to 353.67.
All but two of the 14 Toronto subgroups gained ground on the day, led by information technology, skyrocketing 3.7%, consumer discretionaries, up 0.9%, and the metals and mining group, ahead 0.8%.
The two laggards were health-care stocks, giving back 2.3%, and energy, down 0.4%
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. investors hit pause Friday, following disappointing economic data from China and the U.S. heightened fears about a global slowdown.
Even so, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 42.76 points on the day to conclude the week at 13,208
The S&P 500 was higher by 2.97 points to 1,405.77. The Nasdaq added 2.22 points to 3,020.86
All three major indexes ended the week with modest gains. The Dow and S&P 500 were up more than 0.5%, while the Nasdaq was on pace for a 1.7% increase.
Shares of J.C. Penney rallied Friday despite the department store chain posting a second-quarter loss of $147 million U.S., or 67 cents per share. Analysts were expecting a loss of just 25 cents U.S. per share. J.C. Penney also withdrew its guidance for the year.
Yahoo's stock was sharply lower after the Web portal company -- in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission -- said new CEO Marissa Mayer is reviewing business strategy.
The review could lead to changes in the restructuring plan the company has already started to implement, as well as the previously announced plan to return to shareholder the cash it generated from a deal to sell its stake in the Chinese internet company Alibaba.
British soccer team Manchester United began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. The team priced shares of its initial public offering at $14 U.S. Thursday night, below its targeted range. Shares were up slightly in afternoon trading.
Chinese exports, which had been gaining strength for the past few months, rose just 1% from a year earlier in July, which was well below expectations and down from the 11.3% pace of increase in June. The 4.7% uptick in Chinese imports also fell short of forecasts.
Economically speaking, export prices fell 0.3% in July, while import prices declined 0.4%, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Import prices have been declining since April, and export prices have been falling since May.
The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury moved up, pushing the yield down to 1.65% from 1.69% late Thursday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil for September delivery fell back nine cents to $93.27 U.S. a barrel.
Gold futures for December delivery rose $2.60 to $1,622.80 U.S. an ounce.
