Toronto stocks finished higher on Thursday as bargain hunting investors snapped up bank shares.

Volume was light as U.S. markets were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 100.42 points, or 0.78%, to 13,381.00.

The benchmark index is up just 3.6% this year after shedding about 9% this month.

All but one of the 10 TSX main groups posted gains.

The financials group advanced 1.3% after a forecast from Desjardins Securities said the six big Canadian banks will show 6% year-over-year decline in fourth-quarter overall operating profit.

Banks will begin releasing Q4 earnings next week.

CIBC shares rose $1.59 to $85.90 while Royal Bank gained 84¢ to $49.75.

Shares of DundeeWealth soared to an all-time high on more speculation that the company could be sold. The wealth management company finished up $1.64, or 8.5%, to $20.85.

The tech sector jumped 2.1%, as Research In Motion shares climbed $2.60 to $112.

The materials sector moved up 0.8% as the price of gold held above US$800 an ounce on the prospect of more U.S. dollar weakness.

Kinross Gold rose 26¢, to $17.77 and Barrick Gold gained 16¢ to $41.35.

The energy sector was up a slight 0.09% as the price of Brent crude oil in London moved down 34¢ to US$94.50 a barrel.

Suncor Energy shares rose 66¢ to $100.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index slipped 9.17 points, or 0.33%, to 2,791.79.

The Canadian dollar rose 0.32 of a cent to US$1.0157.