North American markets closed out Tuesday's trading session mixed, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index gaining 1.68 per cent in a catch-up session, the S&P 500 falling 1.05 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.59 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite Index shedding 0.54 per cent of its value.

U.S. equity markets snapped a three-session winning streak, closing the day at session lows after health-news website Stat reported that Moderna Inc.'s Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccine trial results, which helped lift U.S. markets Monday, lacked enough data for a proper assessment of the treatment's success.

In Toronto, 10 of 11 TSX subgroups finished the session higher, led by the health care, real estate and consumer discretionary sectors. Only information technology finished in negative territory. 199 of the 230 TSX constituents were higher.

Oil prices fluctuated through the trading day, with U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate eventually ending the day essentially unchanged at US$31.65 per barrel after swings between positive and negative territory. The volatility comes just ahead of the expiration of the June contract before markets shift to oil for July delivery.

Alberta's Western Canadian Select fell about 16 per cent to trade at US$23.07 per barrel.

The Canadian dollar also finished the session essentially unchanged against its U.S. counterpart at 71.75 cents U.S. 

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12:45 p.m. ET: North American markets remain mixed into midday          

North American equity markets remained steady through the midday trade, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index up about 1.6 per cent, the S&P 500 essentially flat, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down a third of a per cent and the Nasdaq Composite Index up about half a per cent.

In Toronto, 10 of the 11 TSX subgroups were in positive territory, led by the health care, consumer discretionary and real estate sectors. Only information technology was in negative territory.

Oil prices fluctuated ahead of the expiration of the June West Texas Intermediate contract, with WTI for near-term delivery slipping 1.5 per cent to about US$31.30 per barrel. Alberta’s Western Canadian Select fell 17.5 per cent to US$22.65 per barrel.

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9:35 a.m. ET: North American markets mixed as TSX gains in catch-up rally

North American equity markets were mixed to start Tuesday’s trade, with the Nasdaq Composite Index essentially flat, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 down about a third of one per cent and the S&P/TSX Composite Index up about two per cent.

The rally in Toronto came as a bit of a game of catch-up following the surge in stocks south of the border Monday, when the TSX was closed for the Victoria Day holiday.

Oil prices continued to rise, with U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate up about four per cent to trade at US$33.10 per barrel. There’s been some cautious optimism the gradual reopening of the global economy paired with output cuts from the OPEC+ group would be enough to start to bring crude markets closer to balance.

Alberta’s Western Canadian Select didn’t come along for the ride higher, falling 12 per cent to US$23.98 per barrel, though Canadian crude is only priced a handful of times a day.

The Canadian dollar rose two-tenths of a cent against its U.S. counterpart to 71.93 cents U.S., though the greenback was broadly lower against all of its major market peers.