The benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange recovered from a mid-day drop to finish flat on Tuesday, with mixed results across the board.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained a modest 3.8 points, or 0.04%, to close at 8,628.63.

The energy group was off 0.3% by day’s end, despite gains for oil futures. Crude for March delivery ended up US70¢, or 1.7%, at US$40.78 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. fell 2% to $41.95 and EnCana Corp. dipped 1.2% to $54.20.

Husky Energy Inc. shares fell $0.75, or 2.5%, to close at $29.25.

Other energy group players moved higher for the day, including Petro-Canada, higher by 2.7% to $27.64 and Talisman Energy Inc., up 2.4% to $11.95.

The financials group rose 0.7% in Tuesday’s trading.

Royal Bank of Canada shares got a boost of 2% to $30.85 and Bank of Montreal saw its shares gain 1.8% to $32.67.

CIBC’s stock added $0.98, or 2.2%, to close at $46.50.

Lower for the day was Manulife Financial Corp., down 1.6% to $20.13 and Onex Corp., off 3% to $16.10.

Materials stocks slipped 0.1%, with the sub-gold index down 0.8% as gold futures fell below the US$900 per ounce mark in New York. Gold for February delivery closed down $14.70, or 1.6%, at $892 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Barrick Gold Corp. slipped 1.5% to $44.12 and Goldcorp Inc. shares were off 1.8% to $34.80.

Shares of Kinross Gold Corp. fell 1.6% to $21.02.

Bright spots in the group included Yamana Gold Inc., higher by 3.8% to $9.84 and First Quantum Minerals Ltd., which saw its shares surge $1.67, or 7.6%, to $23.80.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index slipped 3.57 points, or 0.4%, to end at 869.25.

The Canadian dollar advanced by US0.88¢ to end the day at US81.29¢.

In New York, stock markets experienced solid gains in Tuesday’s trading despite reports that auto sales were sharply lower in January.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 141.53 points, or 1.8%, to close at 8,078.36.

The S&P 500 index advanced 13.07 points, or 1.6%, to end at 838.51.

The Nasdaq composite finished the day at 1,516.30, up 21.87 points, or 1.5%.

Shares of Ford Motor Co. recovered from early-day losses, to finish higher by 4.3% at US$1.96 on the New York Stock Exchange. The company reported that U.S. sales plunged a weaker-than-expected 42.1% in January.

General Motors Corp.’s stock slid 1.4% after the automaker announced U.S. sales fell 50.8% in January. GM shares closed at US$2.85 on the New York Stock Exchange.

IE