TSX Closer: Index Gains More Than 550 Points as Healthcare And Technology Stocks Advance

04:24 PM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The S&P/TSX Composite Index jumped more than 550 points on Thursday, driven by gains in healthcare, technology and telecom stocks, while investors assessed mixed domestic economic data and the Canadian economic growth outlook. The index closed up 552.64 points, or 1.6%, at 36,137.10, with most sectors advancing. Healthcare and information technology sectors led the gains with each rising 2.3%, followed by a 1.9% climb in telecom shares. Shares in the energy sector closed down 0.5% as prices were mixed for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude. Continued attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz kept concerns over Middle East supply disruptions elevated. November WTI crude oil contract settled up $2.88, or 3%, at $97.97 per barrel, while December Brent oil was last seen down $0.19, or 0.2%, at $105.87 per barrel. The Battery Metals Index, which includes companies listed both on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange, slumped 5.4%. Meanwhile in precious metals, December Comex gold futures jumped 2.0%, or $80.50, to $4,188.40 per ounce at last look. In currencies, the US dollar edged lower 0.4% against the Canadian dollar to 1.4188 at last look. In the bond market, Canada's five-year bond auction drew CA$14.65 billion in investor bids for CA$5 billion in bonds on offer, meaning demand was nearly three times the amount available, according to data on the Bank of Canada website. The bonds were awarded at an average yield of 3.574%. Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the country's economic growth is expected to slow to 1.4% in the fourth quarter from 2.0% in the third quarter, as US tariffs and rising fuel costs weigh on small businesses. It projected inflation will ease marginally to 2.9% in the fourth quarter from 3.0% in the previous quarter. Canadian wholesale sales, excluding petroleum and related products, as well as oilseed and grain, declined 1.6% on the month to CA$91.6 billion in August, according to Canada's statistical agency. The August decline was in line with a consensus for a 1.5% monthly drop provided in a Bloomberg survey. Still, Canadian manufacturing sales grew 1.5% monthly to CA$79.9 billion in August, according to StatsCan. It was slightly higher than a 1.1% monthly consensus increase provided by Bloomberg. To boost the local economy on the country's east coast, the Canadian government said it will commit CA$100 million to support offshore wind development in Nova Scotia, attract private investment and advance the province's Wind West clean energy project.