The new North American trading week began on Monday, July 11^th with investors fully aware that after a long 18-months, the S&P 500 Index was with a few points of its all-time high and wondering if post Brexit, the broad market would have enough incentive to finally crack the historic 2,132 level.

Ascot Resources (AOT-V) at $1.50 and Northern Dynasty (NDM-T) at $0.69 moved up by 20.0% and 23.3% respectively on word that resource investor Sprott Securities had taken up significant positions in the mineral exploration companies.

Nintendo Co. (NTDOY-Q) shares’ surged up by over 33.5% to US$27.70 after the gaming company announced its new Pokémon Go game was the top ranked smartphone app.

Tuesday, July 12^th saw the price of Sage Therapeutics (SAGE-Q) soar up by almost 37% to US$12.36 after a small mid-stage study found its SAGE-547 drug was effective in alleviating symptoms of severe postpartum depression (PPD).

The price of Seagate Technology (STX-N) shares’ surged up by almost 22% to US$29.33 after the computer disk drive maker reported a better than expected 4th-quarter report.

The Bank of Canada held fast on Wednesday, July 13^th and held the country’s key benchmark lending rate steady at 0.5%.

Amazon.com (AMZN-Q) held their second Prime Day and reported that sales increased by an amazing 60% over the inaugural sales day held one year ago to become the internet retailer’s biggest sakes day ever.

Computer hacks were invited into the fold by Fiat Chrysler (FCAU-Q) as the automaker said it would pay between US$150 & UA$1,500 to anyone who could uncover security flaws in any of their vehicles.

Thursday, July 14^th had the Bank of England follow their Canadian counterparts  lead and keep Britain’s key lending rate steady at 0.5% and perhaps helping to add stability to global interest rates.

Ascot Resources (AOT-V) shares’ soared up by 30% to $1.95 on word that Sprott Securities had taken a large position in the mineral exploration company and its flagship past producing Premier gold project in northwest British Columbia.

Tesla Motors (TSLA-Q) rejected a Consumer Reports request that the electric automaker disable its automatic steering function pending the outcome of a U.S. regulator’s inquiry into the death of a person in Florida while apparently using the hands free option.

The American economy continued to grind ahead as Friday, July 15^th had the U.S. Commerce Department report that consumer sales grew by another 0.6% in June and are now 2.7% ahead of the same time one year ago.

Timmons Gold (TMM-T) shares’ rose by over 16.6% to $0.70 after the junior gold producer reported better than expected 2^nd –quarter gold production from its San Francisco gold mine in Mexico.

And the price of Herbalife Ltd. (HLF-N) shares’ rose by almost 10% to US$65.25 after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission finally determined that the nutritional supplement marketer was not a pyramid scheme.

During the Week – The NASDAQ Exchange closed at a new 7-month high of 5,036, while the TSX Composite Index set a new 1-year high of 14,515, the TSX Venture Exchange reached a new 20-month high of 766, the DJIA and S&P 500 set  new respective record highs of 18,517 and 2,164. And the VIX fell to a 1-year low of 12.67.

Canadian Zinc (CZN-T) at $0.41, Rogers Sugar (RSI-T) at $5.99 and Waste Connections (WCN-T) at $96.75 all established new TSX trading highs while Echelon Financial (EFH-T) at $10.92, Nautilus Minerals (NUS-T) at $0.10 and Westport Fuel Systems (WPT-T) at $1.66 all sank to new 52-week trading lows.

For the Week – The Dow Industrials gained 2.04% to 18,517, with the S&P 500 Index up by 1.98% to 2,162 and the NASDAQ Exchange ahead by 1.47% to 5,030. On the north side of 49 the TSX Composite Index rose by 1.56% to 14,482 and the TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.86% to 766.

With commodities – gold bullion fell by 1.91% to US$1,332, while copper gained 5.66% to US$2.24, with crude oil up by 2.64% to US$46.61 and natural gas down by 2.15% to US$2.73. Overall, the CRB Spot Commodity Index advanced by 0.97% to end the week at 415.

The Canadian dollar gained 0.69% against its American counterpart to finish the week at US$0.7718.

And the closely watched CBOE Volatility Index or VIX dropped by 0.53-point to end the week at a very calm level of 12.67.

And Finally – The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission reported that 99.3% of Canadians now have access to wireless phone services.