shares trading in toronto rose midday wednesday as traders returned from the boxing day break and continued to digest new information about the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus shares in transalta corp fell after the company said it has completed its transition away from coalbased energy generation in canada following coaltonaturalgas conversions at facilities in alberta canadas sptsx composite index rose 048 to 2133046 while the bluechip sptsx 60 climbed 049 to 129479 transalta shares were 108 lower at midday john kousinioris president and ceo of transalta said the company has invested 295 million in its coaltogas program since 2019 shares of hardwoods distribution inc rose 346 in midday trading after the company said the toronto stock exchange has accepted a notice that allows the company to buy back up to 186 million of its common shares by dec 30 2022 write to will feuer at willfeuerwsjcom