Canada's benchmark stock index eked out a small gain on Tuesday, with a broad but shallow rally mostly cancelled out by resources stocks' retreat amid further oil price slips. Oil prices fell after the International Energy Agency earlier said global crude supplies could approach record highs, its first slip in four sessions. Among the heavyweights on the index, Suncor Energy Inc gave back 2.2 percent to C$38.42, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd lost 2.1 percent to C$38.63, and Crescent Point Energy Corp fell 2.6 percent to C$31.70.
"The market is exhausted. We've not seen volatility like this in years, a lot of players haven't seen this ever in their careers," said Rick Hutcheon, president and chief operating officer at RKH Investments. The weakness in oil offset hopes that negotiations between a new Greek government and the European Union might result in a deal. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index ended the session up 11.82 points, or 0.08 percent, at 15,112.52, though eight of the 10 main sectors on the index were trading higher. The TSX is up 2.5 percent so far this month. The gold mining sector fell 1.2 percent, reflecting a weaker bullion price, with Barrick Gold Corp slipping 1.7 percent to C$15.30.