Canada: TSX Holds Near Flat.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index traded near flat around the 35,000 mark on Friday, as losses in banking and energy stocks were offset by gains in mining and technology. Energy shares were pressured as oil prices fell on easing supply concerns, with more tankers exiting the Strait of Hormuz. This came despite Iran reaffirming its control over shipping in the Strait and warning Gulf states against siding with the US, a day after an attack on a vessel near Oman underscored the fragility of the preliminary peace deal. Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor Energy both lost more than 1%. Major banks also traded lower as bond yields moved higher, with RBC, TD Bank, and BMO down about 0.5%. Meanwhile, Canada and Japan advanced cooperation on mining projects, including potential joint stockpiling, while gold prices rose. Agnico Eagle and Barrick Gold gained around 1%. In technology, Shopify rose 2.5% and Constellation Software added 1.3%, while Celestica fell 4.3%, tracking weakness on Wall Street.