Gold, industrial and financial stocks helped keep the Toronto Stock Exchange in positive territory Monday morning, while Wall Street was driven down by concerns about the automotive sector after Ford Motor Co. slashed its profit outlook for the year.

At midday, the Standard & Poor’s/TSX Composite Index was up 8.18 points or 0.08% to 9631.90, while the TSX Venture Exchange slipped 2.95 or 0.16% 1845.86.

On Wall Street, the Dow industrial average was down 19.65 points or 0.19% to 10441.69. The Nasdaq was off by 5.04 or 0.25% to 1994.31 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 1.68 points or 0.14% to 1179.52.

The Canadian dollar fell on expectations the Bank of Canada will refrain from raising its interest-rate target tomorrow. It was down 0.36 of a cent to US81.07¢.

On Bay Street, industrial stocks helped keep the TSX afloat, adding 0.68%. The sub-group was led by WestJet Airlines (up 1.66%) and Canadian pacific (up 0.62%).

Financial stocks gained 0.47%, with all the Big Banks posting gains.

Gold shares were up 0.22% as gold futures for June delivery in New York rose to $431.40 an ounce, the highest this month, as the dollar’s decline boosted the precious metal’s appeal as an alternative investment.

BCE Inc. was the TSX’s most-active stocks, adding 0.27% on volume of more than 4.8 million shares.

In New York, enthusiasm over falling crude oil prices was muted by concerns about the automotive sector after Ford Motor Co. slashed its profit outlook for the year.

Investors welcomed reports that OPEC plans another production increase in May to meet steady demand. The news pushed crude futures lower for a sixth straight session, with a barrel of light crude quoted at US$52.80, down 52¢, prior to opening on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Ford weighed on the markets as the automaker said higher expenses and a difficult market would cut into its quarterly and full-year profits. Two brokerages downgraded the company’s stock, and Standard & Poor’s also cut its rating on Ford’s debt. Ford tumbled 6.07% to $10.36 on the news.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average tumbled 1.09%. In afternoon trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 was down 0.32%, Germany’s DAX index lost 0.12%, and France’s CAC-40 fell 0.23%.