Bank of Japan Signals Rate Flexibility Amid Yen Volatility 
Gold Prices Inch Higher Amid U.S.-Iran War Tensions and Technical Rebound 
Google's TurboQuant Sends South Korean Chip Stocks Tumbling Amid AI Memory Demand Fears 
Oil Prices Surge Past $100 as U.S.-Iran Peace Hopes Collapse 
South Korea March Exports Expected to Surge to Near Five-Year High Amid AI-Driven Chip Demand 
WTO Digital Trade Moratorium Expires Amid Stalled Negotiations 
Middle East Conflict Drives Dollar Surge as Yen Hits Critical Threshold 
Cybersecurity Stocks Tumble After Anthropic's Claude Mythos AI Leak Sparks Market Fears 
Asian Stocks Rebound as Trump Delays Iran Strike Deadline 
Bank of Japan Faces Rate Uncertainty Amid Middle East Oil Shock 
Asia Markets Tumble as Gulf Conflict Drives Oil Prices to Historic Highs 
WTO Digital Trade Talks Stall as E-Commerce Tariff Deadline Looms 
China Opens Door to Stronger U.S. Trade Ties Amid Rising Tensions 
Oil Prices Slip as Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Deadline Amid Ongoing War Fears 
U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Iran War Escalates, Oil Surges Past $115 
U.S. Jobs Market Eyes March Recovery Amid Inflation Pressures 
Canadian stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index edging up 0.01% to reach a new all-time high. Gains in the REITs, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors helped propel the market forward.
H&R Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:HR_u) was the top performer, surging 17.22% to close at C$12.46—its highest level in a year. Allied Properties REIT (TSX:AP_u) climbed 3.81% to C$17.97, while Boardwalk REIT (TSX:BEI_u) rose 2.72% to end at C$70.95.
On the downside, Ngex Minerals Ltd (TSX:NGEX) dropped 4.36% to C$15.35. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX:IVN) slipped 1.51% to C$10.42, and TransAlta Corp (TSX:TA) declined 1.49% to C$14.50.
Market breadth was positive, with 511 stocks advancing, 320 declining, and 101 remaining unchanged on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The S&P/TSX 60 VIX, a key volatility gauge, jumped 10.94% to 9.53, signaling a slight uptick in market uncertainty.
In commodities, gold futures for August delivery inched up 0.11% to US$3,346.50 per troy ounce. Crude oil for August fell 0.76% to US$66.49 per barrel, while Brent oil for September dipped 0.42% to US$68.51.
Currency markets were stable, with CAD/USD unchanged at 0.74 and CAD/EUR holding at 0.62. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped 0.18% to 96.65, reflecting mild weakness in the greenback.
Investor sentiment remained optimistic despite minor pullbacks in energy and mining stocks, as REITs continued to demonstrate resilience amid broader economic uncertainty.
