TSX Ends Slightly Higher In Quiet Trade

(RTTNews) - The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark index closed slightly higher on Friday, helped by gains in financial and railroad stocks.

With the U.S. markets closed for the Independence Day holiday, trading volumes were subdued.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed 7.85 points, or 0.05%, higher at 15,214.96. Nine of the 14 Toronto subgroups were in the positive territory.

On Thursday, the index closed down 2.68 points or 0.02% at 15,207.11, snapping a five-day winning streak. The index scaled an all-time intraday high of 15,256.36 in the session.

Canadian National Railway Co. (CNR.TO) and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP.TO) gained 0.6% and 1.51%, respectively.

Among financials, Bank of Nova Scotia edged up 0.2% and Toronto-Dominion Bank added 0.4%, while insurer Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC.TO) rose 1.16%.

Lassonde Industries Inc. (LAS_A.TO) jumped 8.3% after the company said it has agreed to buy U.S. branded juice company Apple & Eve in a US$150 million deal.

Crude for August delivery fell US$0.29 to US$103.77 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while August bullion rose US$0.70 to US$1,321.30 an ounce.