The new trading week began on Monday, March 20^th with the major North American markets still clinging to their year’s gains but looking somewhat fragile in doing so.

Statistics Canada reported that the country’s wholesalers increased sales by a better than expected 3.3^% in January to $59.1-billion – the best monthly percentage gain in 7.25-years.

Dominion Diamond (DDC-T) shares’ surged up by 23^% to $16.27 after the Canadian miner received an unsolicited US$1.1-billion takeover offer from the America’s Washington Co.

The price of VIQ Solutions (VQS-V) rose by 17^% to $0.24 on word that a large U.S. insurance transportation provider would be using their automated cybersecurity.

Tuesday, March 21^st has Statistics Canada report that the country’s retail sales rose by a 7-year high of 2.2^% in January to $46.0-billion.

Stats. Canada also reported that Canadian e-commerce sales once again rose by double digit increases in 2016 to $19.2-billion.

3D Signatures (DXD-V) shares’ surged ahead by almost 15^% to $0.77 after the company reported a clinical study showed its propriety software platform TeloView was successful in identifying  various forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Wednesday, March 22^nd had the Canadian Federal Government present their 2017/18 fiscal budget that along with vague references to infrastructure and innovation saw the projected deficit increase by another $28.5-billion.

The price of Integra Gold (ICG-V) shares’ rose by some6.5% to $0.83 after the Quebec based mineral developer released an update resource estimate that basically doubled the size of its promising Lamaque gold deposit in Val d’Or.

Canyon Services (FRC-T) shares’ surged up by 18^% to $5.94 after the Calgary based petroleum field service company accepted an all-stock $637-million  accepted an all-stock $637-million takeover offer from rival Trican Well Service (TCW-T).

The price of Sears Holding (SHLD-Q) sank by over 12^% to US$7.97 after the iconic retailer stated it might not have the financial resources to continue as a going concern.

Thursday, March 23^rd saw the price of Alset Energy (ION-V) shares’ soared up by almost 41^% to $0.16 after the junior mineral explorer reported encouraging lithium recovery figures from three of its properties in Mexico.

Alaska Air (ALK-N) announced it was phasing out Richard Branson’s Virgin America logo from the airline it acquired just one-year ago.

Some 8-years after it was originally proposed by TransCanada Corp. (TRP-T) -on Friday, March 24^th – U.S. President Donald Trump finally gave presidential consent for the immediate construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that will expand the flow of Alberta’s oil sand released bitumen oil to the gulf coast refineries of Texas.

Statistics Canada reported that the pace of the country’s annual inflation rate eased by 0.1^% in February to 2.0%.

Petroleum industry analyst Baker Hughes reported that the number of active American oilfield drilling rigs rose by 20-units last week to 809 active rigs while the number of active Canadian rigs plunged by 91-units to 185 active petroleum drilling rigs.

Finish Line (FINL-Q) shares’ fell by 19.5^% to US$12.91 after the athletic apparel retailer failed to impress the street with its 4^th-quarter financials.

During The Week – Melcor Developments (MRD-T) at $16.21, Premium Brands (PBH-T) at $82.22 and United Corps. (UNC-T) at $98.50 all reached new TSX 52-week trading highs while Cardinal Energy (CJ-T) at $6.59, GMP Capital (GMP-T) at $3.43 and Heroux-Devtek (HRX-T) at $12.25 all fell to new 52-week trading lows.

For the Week – the Dow Industrials fell by 1.52^% to 20.597, with the S&P 500 Index off by 43% to 2,344 and the NASDAQ Exchange down by 1.02^% to 5,829. Across the line the TSX Composite was lower by 0.30^% to 15,443 and the TSX Venture Exchange dropped by 0.86^% to 804.

With Commodities – gold bullion rose by 1.54^% to US$1,249, with copper off by 1.86^% to US$2.64, while crude oil fell by 2.49^% to US$48.08 and natural gas improved by 5.00^% to US$3.15. Overall, the CRB Spot Commodity Index was lower by 0.46^% to finish the week at 432.

The Canadian dollar dropped by 0.29^% against its U.S. counterpart to end the week at US$0.7476.

And the closely watched CBOE Volatility Index or VIX rose by 1.74-points to finish the week a somewhat more nervous level of 13.02.

And Finally – The U.S. equity markets sold off late Friday after the Trump administration failed to get enough support for its much anticipated American Health Care Act,  and was forced to delay the introduction of a new medical plan that was supposed to replace the current Obamacare medical program.