Toronto stocks posted healthy gains on Monday as driven higher by surging gold stocks. The S&P/TSX composite index ended the session up 67.63 points at 6,628.25.

Gold issues jumped 3.8% as bullion prices strengthened throughout the day as the U.S. moved closer to war with Iraq.

Glamis Gold rose $1.15 to $17.50, while Barrick Gold advanced $1.02 to finish at $24.62.

The influential financial services index rose 1.38%, led by CIBC, up $2.19 to $44.83, and Bank of Montreal, which gained 82¢ to finish at $41.85. Royal Bank gained 81¢ to $57.2.

Bank shares roses after Statistics Canada announced better-than-expected retail sales number for October.

The TSX energy index climbed 1.38% as crude oil prices bolted $1.45 higher to $31.75 US a barrel.

EnCana gained $1.43 to $49.08.

In other news, British Energy PLC sold its 82.4% holding in Ontario’s Bruce Power nuclear electricity generating partnership for about $770 million.

Uranium miner Cameco is raising its holding in Bruce Power to 31.6% from 15%. Also taking 31.6% interests are TransCanada PipeLines and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.

Shares in Cameco jumped $1.46 to $38.99 after the widely expected deal was announced, while TransCanada gained 32¢ to $22.79.

The Toronto Stock Exchange will close at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and not reopen until Friday.

The junior TSX Venture Exchange edged up 9.2 points to 1,019.69.

In New York, blue chips fell as reports of soft consumer spending just before Christmas spelled trouble for retailers, but a rise in semiconductor shares lifted technology stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 18.03 points at 8,493.29. The S&P 500 Index rose 1.62 points to 897.38. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index (gained 18.66 points at 1,381.71.

The Canadian dollar closed at US64.43¢, down 0.1 of a cent from Friday.