Canadian market returns from Christmas break higher

Canada's main stock market in Toronto closed higher on Wednesday, its first day back from a two-day holiday, as rising gold and energy prices contributed to the index's seventh positive session in the past eight trading days.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite gained 32.95 points, or 0.21 percent, to end the session at 15,361.10 points. Half of the 10 sub-sectors moved up on the day.

The TSX Materials group had the biggest impact on the market during the session, soaring 3.26 percent. The group which is comprised of producers of gold, precious metals and raw materials, prospered as the spot price of gold moved up 9.10 U.S. dollars an ounce to 1142.50.

Gold miners were among the most actively traded stock on the day, with gains exceeding five percent on the day. Toronto-based Yamana Gold Inc. and and Kinross Gold Corporation saw respective increases of 8.45 percent and 6.05 percent. Meanwhile, Barrick Gold Corporation, the world's largest gold miner, saw its stock price rise 5.18 percent to 20.71 Canadian dollars (15.28 U.S. dollars).

Other groups to advance on Wednesday were Health Care (0.65 percent), Information Technology (0.54 percent), Energy (0.30 percent), and Utilities (0.04 percent).

The TSX Health Care group saw the second largest percentage increase, as Quebec-based ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. shares uplifted 4.12 percent to 1.77 Canadian dollars (1.31 U.S. dollars).

Energy group rose following increases in crude oil and natural gas prices. Price of Brent in London for February delivery climbed 2.03 percent to 56.20 U.S. dollars a barrel. Meanwhile, January natural gas on New York Mercantile Exchange surged 5.42 percent to 3.965 U.S. dollars per million British thermal units.

Shares of Calgary-based energy firms Baytex Energy Corp. and Pengrowth Energy Corporation moved up 3.68 percent and 3.13 percent respectively.

The groups that failed to advance on Wednesday were not hit hard, as the 0.28 percent decline in Industrials subgroup was the largest drop on the day. The group ended in the negative despite Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. shares being the fifth most traded on the session and finishing at 2.14 Canadian dollars (1.58 U.S. dollars) a share, a 1.42 percent increase.

Shares of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated, an industrial auction firm, contributed most to the group's finish position, as shares plummeted 6.05 percent to 45.78 Canadian dollars (33.78 U.S. dollars) after the company was downgraded by analysts.

Other groups to lose ground on the day included Telecommunications (0.21 percent), Financials (0.17 percent), Consumer Discretionary (0.16 percent), and Consumer Staples (0.12 percent).

Financials group was pulled down by insurance firm Manulife Financial Corporation shares, which closed at 24.16 Canadian dollars (17.83 U.S. dollars), a 1.11 percent dip.

The Canadian dollar fell for a fourth straight session, dropping to 0.7379 U.S. dollars. Endite