commodity

CANADIAN TIRE CORP., $141.12, Toronto symbol CTC.A, owns 499 Canadian Tire stores. They sell automotive, household and sporting goods. Franchisees run most of these outlets. The company’s other operations include 296 gas stations and 91 PartSource auto parts stores. More recently, Canadian Tire acquired Mark’s, which sells casual and work clothing through 381 stores. It also purchased the Forzani Group, which sells sporting goods and athletic wear through 432 stores, including Sport Chek and Sports Experts. In the three months ended April 2, 2016, Canadian Tire’s sales rose 1.8%, to $2.56 billion from $2.51 billion a year earlier. That matched the consensus forecast. Overall same-store sales improved 2.4%....

In 2011, gold shot up to a high of $1,950 U.S. an ounce, and silver reached a peak of $48.48. Gold prices then fell steadily, dropping to $1,050 in December 2015 for the first time since early 2010. That month, silver also declined to a five-year low of $13.65 an ounce. Each metal has since moved up to today’s price of $1,279 for gold and $17.35 for silver. The gains largely reflect higher commodity prices overall as well as the belief that slow global economic growth will keep interest rates low. That raises the prospect of higher inflation. ...

CGI GROUP INC., $57.32, Toronto symbol GIB.A, is Canada’s largest provider of computer-outsourcing services. It helps its clients automate certain routine functions such as accounting and buying supplies. That makes companies more efficient and lets them focus on their main businesses. In its 2016 second quarter, which ended March 31, 2016, CGI earned $268.3 million. That’s a 6.8% increase from the $251.2 million it earned a year earlier. Per-share profits gained 10.3%, to $0.86 from $0.78, on fewer shares outstanding. That missed the consensus estimate of $0.88. In the latest quarter, higher revenue in France, the U.K. and parts of Asia offset declining contributions from CGI’s U.S. defense clients. Revenue improved 5.7%, to $2.75 billion from $2.60 billion. The consensus forecast had been $2.74 billion. The weaker Canadian dollar also helped to lift revenue, contributing an extra $173.7 million....

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LTD., $189.30, Toronto symbol CP, ships freight over a 22,000-kilometre rail network between Montreal and Vancouver, with links to hubs in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. The company reported 4.4% lower freight volumes in the latest quarter. That’s mainly due to weaker prices for oil, minerals and other commodities. They forced many producers in Canada and the U.S. to reduce their production and so their shipping. As more U.S. power utilities switch to natural gas, coal shipments have also suffered. In the three months ended March 31, 2016, CP’s revenue fell 4.4%, to $1.59 billion from $1.67 billion a year earlier. That missed the consensus forecast of $1.61 billion....

J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO., $61.88, New York symbol JPM, is the largest banking firm in the U.S., with assets of $2.4 trillion. In the three months ended March 31, 2016, Morgan earned $5.5 billion, or $1.35 per share. That’s a 6.7% drop from $5.9 billion, or $1.45, a year earlier. Even so, earnings beat the consensus forecast of $1.26 a share. Revenue fell 3.0%, to $24.1 billion from $24.9 billion, but that also beat the consensus forecast of $23.4 billion....

Finding out what old stock certificates are actually worth can be disappointing to say the least. Here is some stock market advice to make sure you never hold a worthless stock certificate.

Envelope-maker Supremex rapidly expanded revenue and earnings through acquisition but also focused on a growing market—packaging for online shopping orders.

Low commodity prices slow Caterpillar dealer Finning International but cost savings and a high dividend make this value stock a buy.

ISHARES MSCI AUSTRALIA ETF $22.29 (New York symbol EWA; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that holds the 71 largest Australian stocks. Its MER is 0.48%.

The fund’s top holdings include Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 11.1%; Westpac Banking Corp., 8.4%; BHP Billiton, 7.6%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 7.4%; National Australia Bank, 7.1%; Wesfarmers, 3.9%; CSL Ltd., 3.6%; Woolworths, 2.8%; Woodside Petroleum, 2.2%; Telstra Group, 2.1%; Rio Tinto, 2.0%; Macquarie Group, 1.9%; and Scentre Group, 1.7%.

Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems and is rich in natural resources. Low commodity prices have hurt its economy, but its proximity to Asian markets with vast potential, including India and China, gives it strong long-term prospects.

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WAJAX CORP. $16.85 (Toronto symbol WJX; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (905-212-3300; www.wajax.ca; Shares outstanding:20.0 million; Market cap: $335.9 million; Dividend yield: 5.9%) sells and services cranes, forklifts and other heavy equipment. It also provides related parts (such as ball bearings, motors, hoses and fittings) and power systems (including diesel engines and transmissions). The company’s customers are in the natural resource, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries. In the three months ended December 31, 2015, Wajax’s clients in mining and oil and gas made fewer purchases. As a result, revenue fell 16.0%, to $324.4 million from $386.1 million a year earlier. Earnings, excluding one-time items, declined sharply, to $4.0 million, or $0.20 a share, from $11.0 million, or $0.66....