August 6 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index edged higher
on Thursday as miners gained on higher gold prices, while
investors weighed the prospects of a U.S.-Iran peace deal
alongside a slew of corporate earnings.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index
was up 0.2% by 10:15 a.m., extending its gains after a record
high in the previous session.
* Miners gained 0.5% as gold prices climbed, with Trekor
Metals ( TGB ), Hudbay Minerals ( HBM ) and Equinox Gold ( EQX )
leading gains on the benchmark index.
* Heavyweight financial shares were also up 0.5%.
* Technology shares dipped 2.6%, however,
pressured by an 11% fall in Celestica ( CLS ) after the data
center infrastructure provider unveiled a $3 billion stock
offering.
* Energy shares were up 0.3%, with Canadian
Natural Resources ( CNQ ) rising 1.2% after beating
second-quarter profit estimates on higher oil and natural gas
production.
* Engineering and nuclear firm AtkinsRéalis rose
4.6% after recording an increase in quarterly revenue.
* Oil prices gained as investors remained cautious about the
Iran-Oman talks, with Brent crude futures up 1.6% and
U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures higher by 1%.
* Restaurant Brands International also beat overall
same-store sales growth expectations for the second quarter,
helped by resilient demand at its Burger King chain in the U.S.
Its shares were down 1%.
* Shopify ( SHOP ), which led the benchmark to a record
high on Wednesday, gained 1.4% after at least six brokerages
hiked price targets following the e-commerce firm's upbeat
quarterly revenue forecast.
* "Earnings are very important, but the macro landscape is
also pushing things along while adding to the uncertainty...
we're seeing a lot of different activity coming from overseas,"
said Corbin Footitt, portfolio manager at Verecan Capital
Management Inc.