Strength in financial stocks helped the Toronto Stock Exchange recover from early-day losses on Thursday, as three of the country’s biggest banks revealed their quarterly results.

The S&P/TSX composite index pulled into positive territory by the end of the session, finishing up 21.79 points, or 0.2%, at 10,933.96.

The financials group jumped 2.3%, led by a sharp 6.5% boost in shares of Royal Bank of Canada, which reported better-than-expected third-quarter results. Royal Bank’s stock closed at $56.55, up $3.46.

Shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank surged 3.2% after the bank posted third-quarter net income of $912 million, down from $997 million in the same period last year. TD shares rose $2.14 to end at $68.39.

National Bank of Canada shares soared $2.38, or 4.1%, to close at $60.89. The bank reported net income of $303 million in the third quarter ended July 31, up from $286 million last year.

Other gainers included Bank of Nova Scotia, up 3.1% to $48.11, and Laurentian Bank, up 6.1% to $39.24.

The materials group edged up roughly 0.1% on Thursday, while the sub-gold index gained 1.1% on small gains in gold futures. On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold for December delivery, the most active contract, ended up US$1.60, or 0.2%, at US$947.40 an ounce.

Higher for the day was Goldcorp Inc., up 1.4% to $39.47, and Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., up 1.6% to $63.28.

Others declined, including Potash Corp., down 2% to $100.50, and Agrium Inc., down 1.9% to $51.95.

Shares of Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. tumbled 6.8% to $12.88.

The energy group fell by 1.2% on Thursday despite a rally in oil futures. Crude oil for October delivery gained US$1.06 to end at US$72.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Units of Canadian Oil Sands Trust fell 3% to $28.05 and TriStar Oil & Gas Ltd., down 3.2% to $14.77.

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. fell 1.4% to $63.94.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index finished slightly lower on Thursday, dipping 3.94 points, or 0.3%, to close at 1,182.15.

The Canadian dollar gained a cent to close at US92.11¢.

In New York, the main stock market indices finished higher.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended at 9,580.63, up 37.11 points, or 0.4%.

The S&P 500 index added 2.86 points, or 0.3%, to close at 1,030.98.

The Nasdaq composite index advanced 3.3 points, or 0.2%, to end at 2,027.73.

IE