The new trading week began on Monday, February 11^th with investors wondering if the amazing 2019 New Year’s market rally may have run its course.

Solium Capital ‘SUM-T’ shares soared up by 43^% to $19.11 on word that a wholly owned subsidiary of giant American banker Morgan Stanley ‘MS-N’ was buying the Calgary based stock-plan administrator in an all-cash deal of some $1.1-billion.

The price of Canadian Tire ‘CTC.A-T’ stock slumped over 3^% lower to $147.56 after an analyst speculated that Amazon.com Inc. ‘AMZN-Q’ could make inroads into Canada’s largest retailer’s business.

And SNC Lavalin Group ‘SNC-T’ shares’ fell by another 7.4^% to $34.00 after the troubled engineering and construction firm announced there may be greater than expected losses coming from its mining division.

Tuesday, February 12^th had the Energy Information Agency (EIA) estimate that American crude oil production will rise by a further 1.45-million barrels-per-day (bpd) this year to a world leading 12.41-million bpd and to 13.2-million bpd in 2020.

Meanwhile – petroleum stocks were higher as inventory storage numbers seemed to be tightening.

Molson Coors Brewing ‘TAP-N’ fall by 9.5^% to US$59.19 after the giant brewer announced it will be restating 2016 & 2017 financial results due to income tax accounting errors.

The price of DHX Media ‘DHX-T’ stock dropped by over 13% to $2.16 after the children’s media company’s 2^nd-quarter revenue stream fell short of the Street’s expectations.

Levi Strauss & Co. ‘LEVI-N’ announced on Wednesday, February 13^th that the Iconic denim jean maker was looking to go public once again by raising some US$800-million and listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Nemaska Lithium ‘NMX-T’ shares’ plunged by over 35^% to $0.40 after the company reported sharply rising engineering and procurement expenses for it Whabouchi lithium mine in Quebec.

The price of West Fraser Timber ‘WFT-T’ fell by over 2^% to $72.78 after the Vancouver, BC bases forester’s 4^th-quarter financials failed to meet analysts’ expectations.

Thursday, February 14^th saw the U.S. Commerce Department report America’s retail sales fell in December by a 9-year high 1.2^%.

All of which effected consumer companies such as Coca Cola Co. ‘KO-N’ as its stock dropped by almost 8.5^% to 45.59 despite the giant beverage company reporting strong 4^th-quarter sales.

Bombardier Inc. ‘BBD.B-T’ share’s surged up by 23^% to $2.51 after Canada’s premier aeronautical and transportation company handily beat analysts’ expectations with its 4^th-quarter financials and better yet – reaffirmed its outlook for 2019 and 2010.

The price of Sierra Wireless ‘SW-T’ stock plunged by almost 27^% to $15.06 after the technology solutions company’s 4^th-quarter financials and 2019 outlook greatly disappointed investors.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported on Friday, February 15^th that American manufacturing production fell in January by an 8-month high of 0.9^%.

Petroleum analyst Baker Hughes ‘BHGE-N’ reported the number of active American drilling rigs rose by 2-rigs last week to 1,051 active drilling rigs, while up north – the number of Canadian active drilling rigs fell by 16-rigs to 224 active drilling rigs.

Cineplex Inc. ‘CGX-T’ shares’ fell by over 7^% to $25.14 after the movie theater company’s  4^th-quarter financials showed a further deuteriation of retail sales.

The markets traded higher going into the American Presidents Day and Canadian Family Day long weekends.

During the Week – Air Canada ‘AC-T’ at $33.15, Fortis Inc. ‘FTS-T’ at $47.37 and SSR Mining ‘SSRM-T’ at $18.44 all rose to new TSX 52-week trading highs while Mountain Province Diamonds ‘MPVD-T’ at $1.39, Sprott Inc. ‘SII-T’ at $2.41 and Surge Energy ‘SGY-T’ at $1.23 all dropped to new 52-week trading lows.

For the Week – the Dow Industrials gained 3.09^% to 25,883, with the S&P 500 up by 2.51^% to 2,776 and the NASDAQ ahead by 2.58^% to 7,486, Meanwhile – the TSX Composite rose by 1.31^% top 15,833 and the TSX Venture improved by 0.65^% to 616.

With Commodities – gold bullion gained 0.23^% to US$1,322, while copper lost 0.36^% to US$2.80, as crude oil rose by 6.18^% to US$55.98 and natural gas improved by 2.70^% to US$2.66. Overall – the CRB Spot Commodity Index was unchanged over the week at 413.

The Canadian dollar gained 0.25^% against its southern neighbor to finish the week at US$0.7549.

And the closely watched CBOE Volatility Index or VIX fell by 0.81^% to end the week at a little calmer level of 14.91.

And Finally – After just some 12-years of commercial service – Airbus SE announced it is curtailing the production of its giant double decker A380 airplane as airlines now require smaller more full efficient planes.