Canadian Stocks Up Sharply For Second Day -- Canadian Commentary

(RTTNews) - Canadian stocks stayed on the winning track Thursday, powered by strong gains in the energy sector.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 86.35 points, or 0.59 percent, to 14,797.17, adding to Wednesday's triple-digit advance.

Eneryg stocks rose 1.4 percent, while banks added 0.8 percent after the U.S. Federal Reserve held steady on interest rates yesterday.

Nov. WTI oil settled at $46.32/bbl on Nymex, up 98 cents, or 2.2%, extending a rebound from last week's two-month low.

Suncor Energy (SU.TO) added 1.6 percent. The company announced yesterday that it will take a $105-million hit on an exploration well off Nova Scotia.

Centric Health (CHH.TO) rose 2.7 percent. The company announced that it had agreed to acquire 100 percent of the equity interests of CareRx Enterprises.

Canada's Unifor auto union said that Fiat Chrysler was its next target in negotiations, after reaching a labor agreement with GM earlier in the week.

SNC-Lavalin Group (SNC.TO) Inc. will make a joint venture with two Chinese companies to build nuclear reactors. The stock rose 0.9 percent.