2014.08.2002:07:33UTC+00Canadian stocks advance on commodity rise

Canadian stocks reached its highest level in a month with energy producers and bank companies advancing on US housing expansion and the easing of Ukraine and Iraq  tension.

The Standard & Poor’s/TSX Composite Index added 0.9% or 138.70 points to 15,477.17, 4:00 pm, Toronto time. Canada’s benchmark index has already advanced a total of 14% for the current year. It maintains it’s second place position as one of the best-performing developed markets around the worlds only beaten by Denmark.

10% was added to the shares of Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. following Orange Capital’s investment on the oil and gas explorer’s stake with its aim of finding board changes. Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. climbed by 1.4% following reports that the convenience store chain made it to the short list of China's Sinopec Sales of companies buying into the $16 billion stake.