In the markets: Housing Prices and Retail Sales Slip in May
Plus: Markets react after Juneteenth pause; Honda launches reusable rocket; Accenture beats.
Canada Stock Digest - June 20, 2025
Market Overview
S&P/TSX Composite Index: Closed at 26,559.90 CAD, up 170.90 points or 0.65% for the day.
S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index: Closed at 718.64 CAD, up 11.23 points or 1.59% for the day.
NASDAQ Composite: Closed at 19,546.27 USD, unchanged.
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA): Closed at 42,171.66 USD, unchanged.
S&P 500: Closed at 5,980.87 USD, unchanged.
Stock & Market News
S&P/TSX Composite Closes Lower Despite Gains in Energy Stocks: Canada’s main stock index ended the day in the red as energy gains were outweighed by weakness in tech and financials The Canadian Press.
Wall Street Holds Steady as Investors Weigh Oil, War, and Fed Direction: Stocks remained flat with traders torn between war headlines and mixed economic signals. CNBC
Asian Shares Are Mixed and Oil Gains as World Waits to See if U.S. Will Join Israel’s War Against Iran: Oil prices rose and Asian markets were mixed as the world awaited potential U.S. military involvement in the escalating conflict BNN Bloomberg.
European Stocks Drift as Middle East Uncertainty Tempers Optimism: The STOXX 600 edged lower with investors cautious despite earlier gains from central bank rate cuts. CNBC
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades: Friday saw a wave of analyst activity led by strong fourth-quarter results from Empire (EMP-A-T), which posted better-than-expected earnings and a 10% dividend hike, prompting price target raises from National Bank ($59), Desjardins ($60), RBC ($61), Scotia ($62), and TD Cowen ($58). Meanwhile, RBC reiterated its bullish stance on Cameco (CCO-T), lifting its target to $100 on the back of accelerating nuclear demand, Westinghouse exposure, and tightening uranium markets. RBC was also optimistic on BlackBerry (BB-T), suggesting upcoming results may beat expectations due to stable macro conditions and conservative guidance, though it maintained a “sector perform” rating and US$3.75 target. Scotia raised International Petroleum Corp. (IPCO-T) to $23, citing strong construction progress at its Blackrod project. VitalHub (VHI-T) also got a target bump to $14.50 from Scotia following its Induction Healthcare acquisition, with expectations of scaling margins and cross-selling potential. The Globe and Mail
Accenture Beats Third-Quarter Revenue Estimates: Accenture reported third-quarter revenue of US$16.5 billion, beating estimates on strong demand for digital transformation services Reuters.
SoftBank Pitches $1-Trillion Arizona AI Hub, Bloomberg News Reports: SoftBank is reportedly proposing a massive AI complex in Arizona that could total US$1 trillion, targeting a leadership position in AI chips BNN Bloomberg.
Honda Takes Flight with First Vertical Launch and Land Test of Its Experimental Reusable Rocket: Honda has completed its first vertical launch and landing test of a reusable rocket as part of its push into aerospace tech The Deep Dive.
Economic News
Canada’s New Housing Price Index Fell 0.2% in May: The index slipped 0.2% for the month, matching forecasts and marking a continued softening in housing prices Trading Economics.
Retail Sales Excluding Autos Dropped 0.3% in April: Core retail sales declined unexpectedly, missing estimates of a 0.2% gain and reflecting continued consumer caution Trading Economics.
Final April Retail Sales Rose 0.3%: The overall retail figure was weaker than expected, suggesting momentum in consumer spending may be waning Trading Economics.
Preliminary Retail Sales for May Dropped 1.1%: The flash reading showed a sharp decline in spending, signaling a potential pullback amid rising economic uncertainty Trading Economics.
Canada to Limit Foreign Steel as U.S. Tariffs Raise Tensions: Ottawa is moving to cap steel imports from non-U.S. countries in a bid to avoid retaliatory American tariffs. The Globe and Mail
Oil Prices Surge Again as Middle East Conflict Drags On: Brent and WTI climbed on fears the Iran-Israel war could spread and disrupt global crude supply. CNBC
World News & Politics
Rockslide at Banff’s Bow Lake Glacier Injures Hikers, Trail Now Closed: A sudden rockfall injured multiple hikers and led Parks Canada to shut down access to a popular trail. CBC
Missing Hamilton Teen Sahil Kumar Found Safe After Citywide Search: Police say the 15-year-old boy who had been missing since Monday was located unharmed. CBC
Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates Amid Global Calls for Restraint: World leaders urged de-escalation as Iran warned of further retaliation and Israeli airstrikes intensified. CNN
Hurricane Erick Hits Mexico with Widespread Flooding and Evacuations: The storm made landfall on the Pacific coast, bringing heavy rains, landslides, and disruption to key ports. CNN
Tech Billionaire Plans to Father 100 Kids and Leave Them Inheritance: Telegram founder Pavel Durov says he aims to have 100 children and give them all a piece of his tech empire. CNN
Economic Events
8:30am New Housing Price Index/Retail Sales
Recent Earnings
TSX
There are no earnings to report today.
US Markets
Accenture PLC (ACND)
Revenue reported at 17.73 BUSD, estimated at 17.32 BUSD
EPS reported at 3.49 USD, estimated at 3.32 USD
Fun Fact
🕷️ Did you know that the world’s smallest spider is about the size of a grain of salt? It’s called Patu digua, and it lives in Colombia. This tiny arachnid measures only about 0.37 millimetres long, making it nearly invisible to the naked eye. Despite its microscopic size, it still has eight legs, fangs, and all the complex anatomy of its larger cousins. Scientists use powerful microscopes just to study its structure. It’s a reminder that nature’s wonders come in all sizes—from massive whales to spiders smaller than a speck of dust!
Investment Tip
🏃♂️ Rule of 40 is a go-to shortcut for evaluating high-growth SaaS and tech companies. It adds together revenue growth and profit margin—and if the total is 40% or more, it’s usually a sign of a healthy, balanced business. A company growing fast but losing money might still pass if growth is high enough. Expert investors use it to filter out hype and find sustainable models. It’s like checking if a sprinter also has stamina—speed is great, but endurance seals the win.
Have a great trading day! 😊
Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a financial advisor before making investment decisions.