TSX climbs to 9-month high, led by tech and mining shares
(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose to a nine-month high on Thursday as declines in energy stocks were offset by gains in major technology and mining players, while a U.S. market holiday kept trading volumes low.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed up 38.27 points, or 0.2%, at 17,351.34.
The energy sector fell 0.4%, tracking declines in crude prices as signs of growing supplies helped to halt a rally driven by optimism over COVID-19 vaccines. [O/R]
The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.2% as gold and base metal prices rose. [GOL/] [MET/L]
The information technology sector, the second largest sector in the benchmark after financials, rose nearly 1%.
Volume on the TSX index was about 97 million shares, its lowest since July 3. U.S. stock markets were closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
Among the largest percentage gainers was power sports manufacturer BRP Inc, which jumped 5.5% after a series of price-target hikes on strong third-quarter results.
(Reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto and Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams, Paul Simao and Tom Brown)
