TSX Today: What to Watch for in Stocks on Wednesday, March 16

The U.S. Fed’s monetary policy decision could keep TSX tech stocks highly volatile today.

| More on:
TSX Today

The stock market roller coaster continued on Tuesday, as investors remained focused on the Fed meeting and updates related to the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite falling by more than 200 points during the intraday trading, the TSX Composite Index staged a sharp recovery later in the session. The benchmark ended the day at 21,188 without any major change from its previous closing level.

Sectors like technology and consumer cyclicals posted strong gains on March 15, despite weakness in consumer non-cyclicals and energy shares.

Top TSX movers and active stocks

Lightspeed Commerce (TSX:LSPD)(NYSE:LSPD) stock rose by more than 8.5% after consistently falling in the previous three sessions, making it Tuesday’s top-gainer Canadian stock. While there was no company-specific news, the recent high volatility in tech stocks, including LSPD, could primarily be attributed to the upcoming U.S. monetary policy decision. Despite a sharp recovery in Lightspeed stock in the last couple of weeks, it’s still down by more than 10% on a year-to-date basis.

ECN Capital, Nuvei, Shopify, Interfor, and Docebo were also among the top gainers, as they rose by at least 7.5% each yesterday.

On the flip side, Wesdome Gold, Westshore Terminals Investment, Labrador Iron Ore Royalty, and Saputo fell by more than 4% each, making them the worst-performing TSX Composite components.

Based on their daily trade volume, Canadian Natural Resources, Suncor Energy, Enbridge, and Baytex Energy remained the most active stocks on the exchange.

TSX today

Early Tuesday morning, most commodities were trading on a mixed to negative note, which could keep the TSX benchmark flat at the open today. Apart from the domestic consumer price data, Canadian investors could monitor the U.S. retail sales and crude oil stockpiles releases this morning. More importantly, the Fed’s latest interest rate decision, FOMC statement, and press conference would remain investors’ main focus and give further direction to stocks. I expect these economic events to keep the market volatility high — especially in the tech sector.

The Motley Fool owns and recommends Nuvei Corporation and Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends CDN NATURAL RES, Docebo Inc., Enbridge, Lightspeed Commerce, and WESTSHORE TERMINALS INVESTMENT CORP. Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Tech Stocks

Person uses a tablet in a blurred warehouse as background
Tech Stocks

Missed Out on Nvidia? My Best AI Stocks to Buy and Hold

AI’s next winners may not be the loudest names. Look for steady, cash-generating software businesses that quietly compound.

Read more »

AI concept person in profile
Tech Stocks

The AI Boom Everyone’s Talking About—and How Canadians Can Profit

Thomson Reuters (TSX:TRI) took a hit on Tuesday as investors feared what AI could do to software.

Read more »

diversification is an important part of building a stable portfolio
Tech Stocks

Undervalued Canadian Stocks to Buy Now

Markets are getting unruly and there are plenty of opportunities for contrarian investors. Here are two Canadian stocks that look…

Read more »

Bitcoin
Tech Stocks

Here’s Why I Wouldn’t Touch This Meme Stock With a 10‑Foot Pole

Bitfarms can trade like a meme stock because the Bitcoin price and headlines drive it more than steady business fundamentals.

Read more »

Data center woman holding laptop
Tech Stocks

2 Overhyped Stocks That Could Turn $100,000 Into Nothing

Crypto-and-AI “theme” stocks can look inevitable in good markets, but they can break fast when sentiment or financing turns.

Read more »

Digital background depicting innovative technologies in (AI) artificial systems, neural interfaces and internet machine learning technologies
Tech Stocks

Step Aside, Nvidia: This AI Stock is the Real Deal for Canadians in the Know

Nvidia is the AI superstar, but supply-chain winners like Celestica can benefit as data-centre spending scales behind the scenes.

Read more »

Map of Canada showing connectivity
Tech Stocks

TFSA Top-Up Time: 1 Canadian Software Stock Worthy of Your New $7,000

Constellation Software (TSX:CSU) might be a bargain after a 51% haircut.

Read more »

Bitcoin
Tech Stocks

2 Risky Stocks That Could Send Your $100,000 Investment to $0

These risky stocks can spike fast, but they can also implode if cash, debt, or demand turns against them.

Read more »