Toronto stocks posted slight gains on Thursday buoyed by strong performances from Celestica and TD Bank. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 15.69 points at 6,715.35.

Overall, six of the 10 TSX subgroups finished higher, with financial issues squeaking ahead 0.24%.

Electronics manufacturer Celestica led net gainers, rising $5.33 to $33.83, after posting second-quarter profits that crept above expectations and saying it would cut jobs to further improve profits.

The stock pulled the information technology sector to a 1.98% gain, as tech issues were hit by negative sentiment from the United States after disappointing earnings and a gloomy outlook from software maker Siebel Systems Inc.

All but three tech stocks finished lower, as wireless company Research In Motion fell $1.29 to $20.39 and telecoms equipment maker Nortel Networks shed 8¢ to $2.02.

After markets closed, Nortel posted a second quarter loss that matched analyst estimates.

Toronto-Dominion Bank climbed $1 to $33.45 despite nearly doubling its provisions for bad loans to $2.15 billion for the year.

Royal Bank of advanced 59¢ to $51.75, while National Bank of Canada fell 88¢ to $30.27.

Rogers Communications jumped $1.14 to $12.71, after reporting unexpectedly strong second-quarter results.

Market momentum in Toronto was negative, as decliners outnumbered advancers 567 to 456. Volume was 176.47 million shares.

The junior TSX Venture Exchange fell 2.29 points to 1,100.32.

In the United States, the gloomy report from Siebel pulled the Nasdaq composite index down 40.30 points to 1,356.95. The Dow Jones industrial average ended down 132.99 points at 8,409.49, giving up earlier gains. The S&P 500 fell 24.45 to 881.55.

Despite strong economic numbers and expectations of improved corporate results, stocks are having trouble breaking out from near 10 month lows.

The Canadian dollar fell 0.17¢ to close at US64.77¢, continuing the decline from Wednesday.