06.03.202621:04:57UTC+00TSX Drops Amid Escalating Geopolitical Tensions

The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 1.6% to close at 33,084 on Friday, as escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered a broad flight to safety that weighed heavily on Canadian equities. Heightened geopolitical risk pushed domestic bond yields higher, pressuring financials including RBC (-1.0%), TD (-2.1%), BMO (-1.9%), and Scotiabank (-1.7%). At the same time, a stronger US dollar hurt major materials names, with investors rotating out of precious metals producers such as Agnico Eagle and Barrick Gold. Even record production from Canadian Natural Resources failed to deliver a significant buffer for the energy sector, as global markets focused on the risk of severe supply disruptions. With investors preparing for ongoing volatility, the Toronto market remains acutely exposed to structural vulnerabilities in global energy trade and the threat of persistent inflation shocks to Canada’s growth outlook.