Bank stocks help Toronto market extend record-setting run
TSX ends up 0.5% at 24,561.20
Financials rise 0.7%; utilities add 2.2%
Eight of 10 major sectors post gains
Energy falls 0.5%; oil hits a two-week low
Updates to market close
By Fergal Smith
Oct 16 (Reuters) -Canada's main stock index rose to a record high on Wednesday, led by bank sector gains as investors bet on faster interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada that wouldboost the economy.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended up 122.12 points, or 0.5%, at 24,561.20, moving past the record closing high it notched on Friday.
Financials, the most heavily weighted sector on the TSX, added 0.7%, asshares of Bank of Nova Scotia BNS.TO rose 1.3%.
"Banks have been on a tear," said Allan Small, senior investment advisor of the Allan Small Financial Group with iA Private Wealth.
"This idea that interest rate cuts in Canada is good for our banks. I think we're going to see a lot more activity on the lending side."
Chances of an unusually large 50-basis-point rate cut from the BoC next week have climbed to roughly 80% from 50% before the release of cooler-than-expected domestic inflation data on Tuesday. 0#BOCWATCH
The utilities sector, which includes many high-dividend paying stocks that could particularly benefit from a faster pace of rate cuts, climbed 2.2%.
The materials sector, which includes fertilizer companies and metal mining shares, edged up 0.3% as gold XAU= and copper HGc1 prices rose.
Saudi Arabia's Manara Minerals is closing in on a deal to buy a minority stake in First Quantum Minerals' Zambian copper and nickel assets, three people familiar with the details told Reuters.
Shares of First Quantum FM.TO increased 2.4%. In contrast, Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO shares fell1.7% after the company said it produced less goldthan expected in the third quarter.
Eight of the 10 major sectors ended higher. Technology and energy both lost 0.5%.
Energy shares were depressed as oil prices hit a two-week low CLc1.
Reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto and Nikhil Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Richard Chang
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