The Toronto Stock Exchange managed a small gain yesterday as some decent economic data from the United States lifted some shares, while others struggled. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 14.49 points, or 0.12%, to 12,044.21. Gains in energy offset losses on the materials side. The TSX Venture composite was down 1.85 points, or 0.12%, to 1,570.38. On the commodities market, crude oil was up US20¢ to US$82.37 a barrel, while gold fell US$5.80 to US$1,105.70 an ounce. The Canadian dollar was up 12 basis points to US98.09¢. Some of the notable gainers on the TSX yesterday included Teck Resources Ltd. (TCKb/TSX), up 2.27% to $44.17, and Suncor Energy Inc. (SU/ TSX), up 2.97% to $32.90. The U.S. Conference Board's monthly measure of consumer confidence came in at a better-than-expected 52.5 for March, up from 46.4 the previous month. Home prices south of the border, as measured by the S&P/Case-Shiller index, advanced by a seasonally adjusted 0.32% in January. That was better than market expectations for a decline and the eighth straight monthly gain. Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM/TSX), Canada's biggest technology firm, declined 1.29% to $76.26 yesterday after a U.S. report indicated Apple Inc. would, in the coming months, ramp up production of its iPhone, which competes with RIM's BlackBerry, as part of an agreement with U.S. carrier Verizon Wireless. RIM reports results from its fourth fiscal quarter after markets close today. Fred Ketchen, director of equity trading with Scotia McLeod, said he was “bored” with yesterrday's trading activity. He said investors are perhaps cautious ahead of the release of U.S. job numbers for March, which will be done on Good Friday, when markets are closed. “Expectations are that the U.S. economy created maybe 190,000 jobs in March,” he said. “Now that wouldn't be so bad, I suppose. But then, if you're not here to react to it, then you have to gamble before.”
