Toronto climbed Tuesday as bargain-hunting investors returned to the market. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 32.68 points, or 0.36%, at 9,110.88. Volume was 129.5 million shares.

Nine of the 10 TSX groups were higher, led by a 1.42% rise in the information technology group and a 1.46% climb in the healthcare group.

Technology stocks were helped by Research In Motion, which added $5.00, or 5.56%, to $95.00. UBS raised its investment rating on RIM to “buy” from “neutral,” saying the stock’s recent sell-off was overdone.

Cognos added $1.57, or 3.13%, to $51.70. The software company said it signed a contract with McDonald’s Canada to use its ReportNet software in its restaurants across the country.

Among the healthcare issues, Biovail climbed 81¢, or 4.24%, to $19.92, while Extendicare gained 75¢, or 4.49%, to $17.45.

Gold-mining stocks were the lone drag on the market with a 1.68% tumble as the bullion price closed lower at the US$423 an ounce as the U.S. dollar gained strength.

Glamis Gold was off 58¢, or 2.85%, at $19.77, and Barrick Gold fell 39¢, or 1.4%, to $27.56.

Today’s decision by the Bank of Canada to leave interest rates unchanged had little effect on the market. The central bank left the overnight rate at 2.50%. The bank’s decision to leave the overnight rate unchanged was widely expected by economists.

However, the Canadian dollar dropped 0.96 of a cent to US 80.72¢ following the announcement.

In New York, U.S. stocks rose on as better-than-expected corporate earnings and positive consumer confidence data lifted the mood among investors a day after major indexes test new lows for the year.

Johnson & Johnson rose about 3% to US$63.44 after its fourth-quarter profit beat analysts’ estimates.

DuPont Co. rose about 2% to US$46.85 after it forecast earnings growth in 2005.

At midday, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 115.05 points, or 1.11%, at 10,483.29. The S&P 500 was up 8.28 points, or 0.71%, at 1,172.03. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index was up 18.97 points, or 0.94%, at 2,027.78.