By Adriano Marchese


Toronto stocks were firmly higher Wednesday in midday trading thanks to a broad-based push from most sectors. In the session, only consumer durables, materials and consumer discretionary posted any notable declines, offset by gains in tech, tech services and financial stocks.

On the macroeconomic front, manufacturing activity in Canada improved for a second month running in November thanks to higher prices and a weaker local currency, while sales by wholesalers pulled back.

Home resales ended the year on a downbeat note, falling 5.8% in December from November after gains in the previous two months due to a jump in supply in the early fall.

Canada's S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 0.7% to 24747.71 and the blue-chip S&P/TSX 60 increased by 0.7% to 1483.51.

Shares in BlackBerry rose 2.8% to 5.91 Canadian dollars ($4.12) after the Canadian cybersecurity firm released a report that said it stopped 600,000 cyberattacks on critical infrastructure in the third quarter.


Other market movers:

Velan shares rose by 29% to C$15.16 after the steel vales manufacturer said it made agreements to divest certain assets and liabilities.

Sierra Metals expects to lift production of most metals this year as it aims to increase throughput rates and grow resources at both of the Canadian company's mines.


Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-15-25 1219ET