Positive third quarter results from Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia and the Bank of Montreal Financial Group coaxed Toronto stocks only slightly higher in trading Tuesday. Similarly, positive economic reports in the U.S. did little to excite market activity.

The Toronto Stock Exchange S&P/TSX composite index closed up 1.67 points, or 0.02%, at 7,442.82. The TSX Venture Exchange closed 3.89 points higher at 1,275.61.

In Canada, Royal Bank reported a 12% increase in third quarter profit, citing stronger results from its brokerage operations, lower loan loss provisions and a higher volume of retail loans in Canada. The company made $783 million, or $1.16 per share, for the nine months ended July 31, compared to $697 million, or 99 cents per share, a year ago.

Scotiabank reported a profit of $626 million, up from $564 million last year, and earnings per share of $1.20, up from $1.05. Revenue for the bank declined to $2.6 billion, down from $2.7 billion a year ago, partly resulting from a stronger Canadian dollar and its affect on sales of the bank’s merchant acquirer business Scotiabank Quilmes, based in Argentina.

Bank of Montreal posted quarterly profits of $504 million, or 95 cents per share, up 46% from the $346 million, or 65 cents per share, reported for the period a year ago. The company credits productivity improvements, lower credit provisions and strong results in all operating groups for its performance.

The financial index finished 1 percent higher following the statements. The three banks together make up about 10.5% of the index. Shares of Royal closed $1.10, higher at $60.25, BMO rose $1.62 to $45.62, and Scotiabank slipped $0.03 to $60.72.

Markets closed only slightly higher in the U. S., after a slow day of trading. The markets performed poorly despite bullish economic reports from various sectors, including Monday’s announced jump in home sales — reportedly up 5% to a record annual rate of 6.12 million, despite rising mortgage rates. New home sales reported Tuesday were down 2.9% from June, but remained above expectations at the second highest level on record.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported an increase in new orders for durable goods, up 1% in July on top of a 2.6% increase in June, and the New-York-based Conference Board says the Consumer Confidence Index rose to 81.3 in August, up 4.3 points from 77 in July.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 22.53 points, or 0.24%, to 9,340.17. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.01 points to 996.72, and the Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 6.33 points, or 0.36%, to 1,77064.