The first full trading week of 2019 began on Monday, January 7^th with investors encouraged that the markets were finally post their first broad based advance in many months.

Suncor Energy ‘SU-T’ announced that its petroleum production rose by 12^% in the 4^th-quarter of 2018 to 831,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

While on a related note – petroleum industry analyst Genscape Inc. reported that Canadian crude shipments by rail rose by 6.4% in December to a record 281,000 barrels-a-day.

The price of New Gold ‘NGD-T’ stock rose by almost 7^% to $1.28 after the miner reported stronger than expected 4^th-quarter production figures.

PG & E ‘PCG-N’ shares’ plunged by 22^% to US$18.95 after the California based utility company warned of massive 4^th-quarter charges due to the unprecedented wildfires late last year in that state.

Tuesday, January 8^th had Statistics Canada announce that due to a sharp drop in petroleum sales – the country’s trade deficit almost tripled in November to $2.1-billion.

Husky Energy ‘HSE-T’ announce that the Canadian integrated petroleum company was considering simplifying its operations by selling its 500 odd downstream service stations across Canada and its oil refinery in Prince George, BC.

The price of Aurora Cannabis ‘ACB-T’ fall by over 4.5^% to $6.68 after the marijuana grower warned that 2^nd-quarter sales may be less than originally expected.

Wolfden Resources ‘WLF-V’ shares’ rose by over 9.5^% to $0.29 after the mineral explorer released a positive resource update for its Pickett Mountain multi-metal project in northeastern Maine.

Wednesday, January 9^th saw the Bank of Canada as expected and leave the country’s key lending rate unchanged at 1.75^%.

Statistics Canada reported that the country’s new housing starts fell by almost 5^% in December to an annualized 213,419 units.

Constellation Brands ‘STZ-N’ stock dropped by over 12^% to US$150.94 after the alcoholic and now marijuana beverage company’s 3^rd-quarter financials failed to live up to the street’s expectations.

The price of Pretium Resources ‘PVG-T’ shares’ fell by 11^% to $10.33 after the northern British Columbia based gold miner reported an unexpected drop in 4^th-quarter gold production.

Thursday, January 10^th had the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report their consumer price index or CPI fell by 0.1^% in December to 1.9^%.

Shareholders of Amazon.com ‘AMZN-Q’ were stunned to hear that the company’s founders and the two largest shareholders, Jeff & Mackenzie Bezos were divorcing and potentially dividing up their 16% or US$800-billion ownership of the giant internet retailer.

Macy’s Inc. ‘M-N’ shares’ plunged by over 17.5^% to US$26.11 after the American department store reported an unexpected drop in holiday season sales.

Marijuana stocks seemed to rise in unison after American investment firms endorsed the upstart cannabis industry.

Friday, January 11^th saw the price of General Motors ‘GM-N’ shares’ rise by 7^% to US$37.18 after the Big Three automaker raised its profits guidance for 2019.

The price of Tilray Inc. ‘TLRY-Q’ stock soared up almost 19.5^% to UA$96.00 by after one of its largest shareholders, Privateer Holdings Inc. announced it was not going to sell any of its soon to be free trading shares of the Nanaimo, BC marijuana producer.

For the Week – Alimentation Couche-Tard ‘ATD.B-T’ at $71,45, Medical Facilities Corp. ‘DR-T’ at $16.45 and Metro Inc. ‘MRU-T’ at $48.46 all rose to new TSX 52-week trading highs while Genesis Land Development ‘GDC-T’ at $3.04, Indigo Books & Music IDG-T’ at $11.05 and Maxar Technologies ‘MAXR-T’ at $8.06 all fell to new 52-week trading lows.

The Dow Industrials gained 2.40^% to 23,996, with the S&P 500 up by 2.53^% to 2,596 and the NASDAQ ahead by 3.44^% to 6,971. Up north – the TSX Composite rose by 3.55^% to 14,939 and the TSX Venture gained 2.56^% to 602.

With commodities – gold bullion gained 0.23^% to US$1,289, with copper up by 0.38^% to US$2.66, as crude oil surged up by 8.38^% to US$51.98 and natural gas rose by 2.42^% to US$2.98. Overall, the CRB Spot Commodity Index fell by 0.50^% to finish the week at 411.

The Canadian dollar improved by 0.79^% against its southern cousin to end the week at US$0.7535.

And the closely watched CBOE Volatility Index or VIX dropped by 3.21-points to finish the week at a much calmer level of 18.17.

And Finally – It may be random or a result of rising interest rates, but the Superintendent of Bankruptcy reported that the number of Canadians seeking debt relief rose by 5.1^% year-over-year in November to 11,320 cases.