EconomicsCanada: Recession: We've been exorcized! -- Let the good times roll ...

Globe & Mail, Toronto (Dec2,2k9),  "At noon, Go Canada Go,"  by David Parkinson.

G&M's Global Investor blogs has featured a Market Blog special cheerleading report, weited heavily toward the successes of the gold mining and refining industries

Canadian stocks are pushing their way higher in midday trading, thanks to the strength of gold and base-metal prices, while U.S. markets continue to struggle for traction.

Shortly after noon ET, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 30 points at 11,737. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 43 points at 10,429, while the S&P 500 was off 3 points at 1,106. The Nasdaq composite index was up 2 points at 2,178.

In Toronto, six of 10 industry sub-indexes were higher, led by materials, up 2.3 per cent. Consumer staples were off 1.1 per cent, while the heavily weighted energy sector was down 0.6 per cent on lower oil prices.

Gold is up $12 (U.S.) at $1,212.20 an ounce in New York, after pushing to another record high of more than $1,218 in early trading. Bullion was initially fuelled by renewed weakness in the U.S. dollar, but has retained much of its strength despite a recovery in the greenback, which is now showing mild gains against the euro.

The Canadian dollar is off one-third of a cent at 95.25 cents (U.S.)

Crude oil is down nearly $2 at $76.39 a barrel.

With little significant economic or corporate news scheduled Wednesday, investors are already looking ahead to Friday's U.S. and Canadian employment reports.

Gold blocks and "candy bars" are sold regularly on TV here.

-- EconoMix, with hat tip to