Toronto stocks finished flat on Thursday as a rally by technology and health-care issues was offset a drop in energy stocks. The S&P/TSX composite index edged up 6.09 points to close at 7,106.86.

Energy stocks fell 0.4% after investors locked in profits from Wednesday gains. EnCana dropped 49¢ $52.60, while Canadian Natural Resources fell 7¢ to $56.85.

The information technology sector rose 0.6%, the health-care sector added 1.5%.

Celestica climbed 74¢ to $21.80, while Cognos added 81¢ to close at $40.05.

Shares of Air Canada, the second most active stock during the session, fell 67¢ to $1.17 following a warning of a C$1 billion revenue shortfall.

Toronto volume was healthy with 258 million shares valued at $2.57 billion changing hands. Market momentum was slightly positive as 599 issues advanced and 541 declined.

The TSX Venture Exchange picked up 2.34 points to 1,106.76.

In New York, stocks ended slightly higher, after a lackluster session.

The U.S. government issued two reports showing jobless claims fell last week while retail sales inched up in May. With economic signals mixed,the Dow Jones industrial average edged up 13.33 points to 9,196.55.

The S&P 500 ended up 1.03 points at 998.51. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index closed up 7.60 points at 1,653.62.

The Canadian dollar closed slightly higher after optimistic comments on the economy by Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge. The loonie ended the session at US74.08¢ up from US74¢ at Wednesday’s close.