TSX Forges Near 9-Mo. High

Equities in Toronto moved progressively higher approaching noon Thursday, hovering around nine-month highs 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 TSX surged 40.43 points to pause for noon at 17,353.50.

The Canadian dollar eased 0.07 cents to 76.89 cents U.S.

The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was BRP Inc., which jumped $3.26, or 4.6%, to $73.50 after a series of price-target hikes on strong third-quarter results.

Equitable Group fell 56 cents to $98.07, while the second biggest decliner was Inter Pipeline, down 25 cents, or 1.8%, to $13.31.

The most heavily traded shares by volume were Suncor Energy, which lost 13 cents to $22.70, Score Media and Gaming, which hurtled nine cents, or 11.4%, to 88 cents, and Nevada Copper, unchanged by noon EST to 11 cents.

In economic circles, Statistics Canada reported In September, the number of employees receiving pay or benefits from their employers rose by 337,500, or 2.2%.

The agency said the followed an increase of roughly 1.8 million payroll jobs from June to August, and brought the total payroll employment change since February to a decline of 1.2 million, or 7.3%.

Oil prices gained 80 cents to $45.71 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices gained $1.44 to $1,809.67 U.S.

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ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange gained 0.87 points to approach noon at 747.17.

All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups began the session in positive territory, with health-care haler by 1.3%, information technology, up 1.2%, and materials stronger by 0.7%.

The three laggards were consumer discretionary, down 0.2%, financials, off 0.02%, and consumer staples, down 0.01%.

ON WALLSTREET

Markets in the United States were shuttered for Thanksgiving. They will return Friday to trade in an abbreviated session.