Toronto stocks ended slightly higher Tuesday, as a positive day in the energy sector was somewhat offset by market caution arising from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to continue raising its key rate.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished up 7.43 points, or 0.07%, to 10,390.75.

Volume on the senior exchange was 211 million shares.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups closed higher, with the energy index gaining 0.85%. The crude oil contract for December gained 9¢ to close at US$59.85 a barrel.

EnCana Corp. gained 56¢, or 1.04%, to 54.56, while Canadian Natural Resources lifted $1.06, or 2.20%, to $49.35.

The December contract for gold fell $6.30 to settle at US$460.60 an ounce. The gold sector lost 1.20%

The market was still reacting to yesterday’s news of Barrick Gold Corp.’s intention to buy Placer Dome. Barrick shares lost 21¢, or 0.83%, to $25.04, while Placer Dome fell 62¢, or 2.66%, to $22.71.

The telecommunications services sector was off 1.52%. BCE lost 93¢, or 3.19%, to $28.23.

Manitoba Telecom Services fell $2.03, or 4.66%, to $41.50 after it announced a third-quarter profit of $45 million, less than analysts’ expectations.

The Canadian dollar was ahead 0.42 of a cent at US85.08¢.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index finished down 8.05 points, or 0.40%, to 1,985.51.

In the U.S., the Fed announced it was be increasing its funds rate to 4%, a quarter point increase, and suggested it wasn’t ready to abandon its current hawkish direction. This was the 12th consecutive time the Fed decided to lift the key rate a quarter point.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished down 33.3 points at 10,406.77, the Nasdaq composite index fell 6.25 points to 2,114.05 while the S&P 500 index was off 4.25 points at 1,202.76.