Major North American stock indexes added to their monthly advance on Friday, as investors cheered U.S. data that showed the economy on a solid footing.
The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended up 118.69 points, or 0.5%, at 23,346.18, stopping just short of Monday’s record closing high. For the month, the TSX added 1% after climbing 5.7% in July.
U.S. consumer spending increased 0.5% in July and prices rose moderately, curbing inflation, a report from the U.S. Commerce Department showed.
“Overall, it looks like the U.S. economy is fine,” said Allan Small, senior investment advisor of the Allan Small Financial Group with iA Private Wealth. “The market is liking it.”
Separate data showed the Canadian economy grew at a faster-than-expected annualized pace of 2.1% in the second quarter but still at a pace that was consistent with further interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada.
The Canadian central bank will cut…
