The Toronto Stock Exchange S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 57.79 points to 7,500.61, from a session low of 7,442.82. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index closed up 23.08 at 1298.69.

The price of bullion reached a three-month high, causing stocks of gold producer Barrick Gold Corp. to rise $1.07 to $28; Placer Dome Inc. finished at $19.14, four percent higher.

The gold index overall rose 4.6% and information technology stocks added about 2%. Nine of the TSX’s 10 subindexes finished higher, and utilities slipped 0.08%.

Meanwhile, industrials gained 1.4% following the release of second-quarter results from Bombardier Inc., the most active issue, which finished 7% higher at $5.38.

U.S. markets experienced a third day of slow trading with volumes among the five lowest days so far this year. The Dow Jones Industrial average closed down 6.66 points at 9,333.79; Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up just 0.06, at 996.79, and the Nasdaq Composite Index finished 11.48 points higher at 1,782.13.

Economic reports expected tomorrow include data on U.S. gross domestic product and weekly jobless claims numbers. Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan is scheduled to speak to central bankers at the Fed’s annual conference on Friday, and manufacturing data and a monthly unemployment report are due out next week. The Bank of Canada is also expected to announce its interest rate decision on Sept. 3.