S&P/ TSX Composite climbs 375.86 points in afternoon trading on jobs shock
Published on 10/09/2026 at 18:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The S&P/TSX Composite rose 375.86 points to 35,521.24 in late-morning trading on October 9, 2026.
- Canada lost 68,300 jobs in September, far below forecasts for a 9,200 increase, while unemployment rose to 6.5 percent.
- Gold, materials and information technology led eight advancing TSX sectors; Aritzia gained 18.1 percent after strong quarterly results.
- The next major scheduled event is the Bank of Canada's policy decision on October 28, 2026.
The S&P/TSX Composite climbed 375.86 points to 35,521.24 points in late-morning trading on October 9, 2026, as a sharp Canadian employment decline reduced expectations for near-term Bank of Canada tightening. The move followed Thursday's close at 35,145.38 points, according to Town and Country Today.
Jobs data lifts the index by 375.86 points
Statistics Canada reported that employment fell by 68,300 in September after a 41,700 decline in August. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected a gain of 9,200 jobs, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent from 6.4 percent. Reuters said the data erased the employment gains recorded earlier in the year and represented the final labor-market reading before the Bank of Canada's October decision.
The weaker report reduced the odds of a rate increase at the next meeting to 27 percent from 40 percent, according to Baystreet.
Gold and materials lead sector gains
Eight of the 12 TSX subgroups advanced. Gold shares rose 2.3 percent, materials gained 2.1 percent and information technology added 1.7 percent, while telecoms fell 1.6 percent. Gold increased by USD 56.80 to USD 4,213.80 an ounce, supporting resource stocks.
Aritzia was a prominent single-stock mover, surging 18.1 percent to CAD 143.90 after the apparel retailer topped analyst expectations for second-quarter revenue and profit. The company's results were released after Thursday's close, as documented by Financial Times.
What comes next
The next major Canadian policy event is the Bank of Canada's interest-rate decision and Monetary Policy Report on October 28, 2026, according to Admiral Markets.
