The Toronto stock market finished slightly higher on Tuesday as weak commodity prices and further uncertainty about a Spanish bailout defined an erratic trading session.
The S&P/TSX composite index gained 21.04 points to 12,391.23, after dipping in and out of negative territory throughout the day. The TSX Venture Exchange lost 6.92 points to 1,331.78.
The Canadian dollar fell US17¢ to US $101.60.
Reports that a potential bailout request from Spain could happen soon attracted traders' attention, though the country's prime minister downplayed expectations that he will make a request for a bailout loan.
"Investors are still not convinced that they are doing enough to lead themselves out of the forest," said Jim Muir, director of Fraser Mackenzie in Toronto.
As well, Greece's government is in talks with its debt inspectors over its latest austerity measures. If the inspectors refuse to sign off on the measures, Greece faces the prospect of not getting its next batch of bailout funds, a development that may lead to its exit from the euro.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrials dropped 32.75 points to 13,482.36.
The Nasdaq composite index lifted 6.51 points to 3,120.04 and the S&P 500 index was up 1.26 points at 1,445.75.
The TSX indexes were divided in their direction, with information technology stocks leading the upside with a gain of 0.7%.
Research In Motion shares rose 6%, or 46¢, to $8.15.
Gold stocks were trading to the downside as bullion prices backed off a sevenmonth high. December bullion pulled back $7.70 to close at US$1,775.60 an ounce.
The December contract for copper rose 1.6¢ to US$3.80 a pound. Copper is viewed as an economic barometer because it is used in so many industries.
Energy stocks gained 0.08% while November crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange moved down 59¢ to US$91.89 a barrel.
The market has been in a holding pattern ahead of the latest U.S. jobs report, due on Friday, which will give a better idea of where the economy is headed.
In the meantime, Mosaic, the largest fertilizer company in the United States, said weak demand from China and India weighed on its profits.
The comments sent its stock, as well as Dupont and other materials companies, lower. And Core Logic, a private provider of real estate data, said U.S. home prices in August rose 4.6% compared with the same month last year.
