TD Bank said on Thursday that Chief Global Anti-Money Laundering Officer Herbert Mazariegos is stepping down immediately, as the bank takes remediation actions after it was fined by U.S. regulators for compliance failures. TD shares dipped one cent to $82.22. On the economic agenda, Statistics Canada's new housing price index declined 0.1% on a month-over-month basis in December. Prices were down in seven of the 27 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) surveyed, while prices were unchanged in 13 CMAs and up in the remaining seven. ON BAYSTREET The TSX Venture Exchange jumped 6.55 points, or 1.1%, to 623.49. All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups were higher heading into noon hour EST, with information technology ahead 1.4%, gold improving 1.1%, and health-care recuperating 1%. The three laggards were energy stocks, off 1.1%, industrials, sliding 0.5%, and consumer staples, falling 0.4%.