Adrian Mastracci, investment counsel at Vancouver’s ‘fee-only’ KCM Wealth Management, says, "I'm seeing a trendless market here that is going to be stressful on investors.”

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index finished up 28.26 points, or 0.24 percent, at 11,765.33, giving up much of its early-day gains, which took it to a session high of 11,851.55. The index had declined about 2 percent in the prior three days.

"I think we're in a short-term down trend that's just ongoing," said Douglas Davis, president of Davis-Rea Ltd. in Toronto.

Six of the TSX's 10 main sectors rose, with the energy group, which accounts for about 30 percent of the main index's weighting, gaining 0.55 percent. The resource-laden materials group retreated 0.37 percent. Telecoms rose 0.44 percent.

"I'm seeing a trendless market here that is going to be stressful on investors, because there isn't a trend that they can say, 'Ah, yes, it's either going up or down'," said Adrian Mastracci, president of KCM Wealth Management Inc. in Vancouver.

Crude rose 45 cents to $60.47 a barrel on NYMEX, taking Toronto' energy issues along with it, as violence flared again in Nigeria, a major exporter, with militants seeking to disrupt the country's oil industry.

For Galleon Energy Inc., the day brought a jump of more than 42 percent in its share price, after the small Calgary-based company announced details of a big oil discovery in northwest Alberta. The shares were up C$8.83 on the day, closing at $29.83.

Imperial Oil rose C$3.01, or 2.77 percent, to $111.80 and Flint Energy Services Ltd. gained C$2, or 4.4 percent, to C$47.

Gold issues also improved, tracking an increase in April gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, which rose $2.70 to $547 an ounce.

Teck Cominco Ltd. gained 39 Canadian cents to C$70.60 and Goldcorp Inc. rose 19 Canadian cents to C$29.75.

Overall volume was 304.8 million shares worth $4.88 billion, with advancers outpacing decliners by 838 to 676.

The blue chip S&P/TSX 60 index added 2.18 points to 664.69.

In the United States, stocks fell once again with the Dow Jones industrial average retreating 33.46 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 10,972.28, as investors remained cautious ahead of Friday's U.S. jobs data.

The technology-weighted Nasdaq composite slid for a sixth straight day, dropping 17.74 points, or 0.78 percent, to 2,249.72 as Web search heavyweight Google Inc. sold off below a key technical level.

($1=$1.16 Canadian)

NOTE: The information provided above is intended for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute advice for anyone's specific situation. Everyone should always first consult directly with their advisors to determine the appropriateness of any information contained above before taking any action. KCM Wealth Management Inc. assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance upon the above information.