TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:
Toronto Stock Exchange (11,851.81, down 318.71 points.)
Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Up one cent, or 2.08 per cent, to 49 cents on 31.5 million shares.
Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB). Energy. Up $1.03, or 2.86 per cent, to $37.05 on 23.3 million shares.
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (TSX:CNQ). Energy. Up 95 cents, or 8.48 per cent, to $12.15 on 22.4 million shares.
Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Up three cents, or 1.27 per cent, to $2.39 on 21 million shares.
Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up 44 cents, or 2.82 per cent, to $16.07 on 19.8 million shares.
Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX:EQX). Materials. Up 79 cents, or 9.29 per cent, to $9.29 on 19.7 million shares.
Companies in the news:
Cenovus Energy Inc. — Canadian crude-by-rail exports hit a record high in January but observers say they've likely fallen since then and stand to plummet even further as low oil prices force producers to cut growth spending and shut in high-cost wells. Crude-by-rail exports reached a high of 403,767 barrels per day in January. That beats by 10.6 per cent the previous record of 364,893 bpd set in December 2018. Oilsands producer Cenovus Energy Inc. reported in February that its crude-by-rail shipments jumped to 120,000 barrels per day in January from 106,000 in December.
Air Canada (TSX:AC). Up 26 cents or 2.1 per cent to $12.41. Canada's major airlines are relatively well-positioned to weather the financial storm that has been unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but regional players may find it tougher to stay afloat, experts say. Air Canada, which is laying off more than 5,100 flight attendants and suspending most of its routes abroad by the end of the month, has a $7.3-billion cushion to fall back on — more than the most profitable U.S. carrier, Delta Air Lines. WestJet Airlines Ltd. has halved its domestic capacity and cancelled all overseas and U.S. routes for 30 days.
New Gold Inc. (TSX:NGD). Down 10 cents or 12.2 per cent to 72 cents. New Gold Inc. is closing its Rainy River Mine near the U.S. border in western Ontario for two weeks so that its workers can follow the 14-day self-isolation period recommended for those who have travelled outside Canada. The Toronto-based mining company says about 70 per cent of the workforce at the mine near Fort Frances are local residents and many of them make frequent short trips across the border into Minnesota.
Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX:LAC). Down 48 cents or 13.4 per cent, to $3.10. Vancouver-based Lithium Americas Corp. says it has suspended construction activities at its US$565-million lithium project in Argentina in accordance with government-mandated restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Jon Evans says the company is in the process of "demobilizing" its construction workforce of more than 1,000 people. He says the 40,000-tonne-per-annum project is well advanced and construction will resume when the suspension is lifted. The government has ordered a mandatory quarantine from March 20 until March 31.
Empire Co. Ltd. (TSX:EMP.A). Up $1.27 or 4.6 per cent to $28.97. Retailers that deem themselves an essential service during the novel coronavirus outbreak are taking new measures in stores, like installing Plexiglas shields at cash registers and limiting the number of customers, to protect shoppers and staff from COVID-19. Empire Co. Ltd., which owns the Sobeys and Safeway chains, started to install Plexiglas shields at some stores Thursday night. It plans to roll out the protection to every store as soon as possible.
Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO). Up $1.59 or 2.6 per cent to $62.26. Canada's securities regulators suggests companies don't have to resend proxy-related materials to shareholders if they plan to move annual meetings online because of COVID-19. Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) issued guidance Friday after the country's largest banks and insurance companies obtained a court order allowing them to hold the meetings using electronic means.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2020.
The Canadian Press
