Stocks Languish After Trump Pokes North Korea -- Canadian Commentary

(RTTNews) - Canadian stocks edged lower Thursday despite strong bank earnings. Stocks fell for a third session in arow after an 11-day win streak.

The TSX Composite Index dropped 20 points to 16,113.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) revealed a profit for its second quarter that increased from the same period last year.

The company's bottom line came in at C$2.98 billion, or C$2.06 per share. This compares with C$2.72 billion, or C$1.85 per share, in last year's second quarter.

TD Bank (TD.TO) also beat earnings estimates.

Aecon shares fell sharply after Canadian regulators blocked its sale to a Chinese company.

Markets were in a skittish mood after President Donald Trump warned North Korea for messing about.

"Our military, which is by far the most powerful anywhere in the world that has been greatly enhanced recently as we all know, is ready as necessary," he said."If and when Kim Jong Un chooses to engage in constructive dialogue and actions, I am waiting."

He cancelled the summit that was scheduled for June.

"You talk about your nuclear capabilities," Trump wrote in his letter to Kim, "but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used."

June gold settled at $1,304.40/oz, up $14.80, or nearly 1.2%.