TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index is expected to see-saw higher next year as loose U.S. monetary policy and steady global growth entice investors to the resource-heavy market, a Reuters poll found.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was seen ending 2011 at 14,000, according to the median forecast of 26 analysts and fund managers in a poll taken over the past week.

TORONTO, Dec 7 (Reuters) – Canada’s dollar will grind
higher against the greenback in 2011 and 2012, boosted by
demand for commodities and interest rates higher than those
found in the United States, Scotiabank predicted on Tuesday.

The country’s main stock market index .GSPTSE is also
likely to rise more than 5 percent from current levels by the
end of next year as the economy recovers further, the bank said
in an economic and market outlook.

TORONTO/OTTAWA, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Canadian purchasing
activity ticked higher in November and the cooling housing
market dragged down the value of October building permits as
the economic recovery advanced but at a subdued pace.

The Ivey Purchasing Managers Index showed on Monday a rise
to 57.5 in November from 56.7 in October. This was just above
the market forecast of 56. ECONCA

TORONTO, Dec 3 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index rose
for a fifth straight session on Friday as a weak U.S. dollar
pushed up commodity prices, but soft quarterly results from
Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) crimped the gain.

Gold-mining stocks were among the big risers. Barrick Gold
(ABX.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) rose 1.2 percent to C$54.22, while Kinross Gold (K.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)
rallied 3 percent to C$18.79 as gold prices jumped to above
$1,400 an ounce as weak U.S. jobs data cast doubt on the
strength of the economic recovery. [GOL/]

TORONTO, Dec 3 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index rose
for a fifth straight session on Friday as a weak U.S. dollar
pushed up commodity prices, but soft quarterly results from
Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) crimped the gain.

Gold-mining stocks were among the big risers. Barrick Gold
(ABX.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) rose 1.2 percent to C$54.22, while Kinross Gold (K.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)
rallied 3 percent to C$18.79 as gold prices jumped to above
$1,400 an ounce as weak U.S. jobs data cast doubt on the
strength of the economic recovery. [GOL/]

TORONTO, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index rose
to its highest level in more than two years on Wednesday as
financials got a boost from a strong start to bank earnings
season, while concerns about euro zone debt eased.

The market was also lifted by better-than-expected economic
data in China, Europe and the United States, which whetted
investors’ appetite for risk globally, boosting oil and metals
prices. [MKTS/GLOB]

TORONTO, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index rose
to its highest level in more than two years on Wednesday as
financials got a boost from a strong start to bank earnings
season, while concerns about euro zone debt eased.

The market was also boosted by better-than-expected
economic data in China, Europe and the United States, which
whetted investors’ appetite for risk globally, boosting oil and
metals prices. [MKTS/GLOB]

TORONTO, Nov 23 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index
ended sharply lower on Tuesday as tensions in the Korean
peninsula and euro zone debt concerns pushed down heavily
weighted commodity-linked shares.

Toronto stocks followed global equities lower, with energy,
down 1.6 percent, among the hardest-hit groups on the
resource-heavy index. [O/R]

TORONTO, Nov 19 (Reuters) – Canadian regulators laid down
proposed ground rules on Friday for the trading of “dark
liquidity” in a bid to strike a balance between promoting
competition here and protecting investors.

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and Investment
Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) issued a
position paper on a framework related to the size of dark
orders and the ability to improve pricing by those who want to
trade in the dark.

TORONTO, Nov 19 (Reuters) – Canada’s next budget will
contain no big new spending plans as the country emerges from
tough economic times, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on
Friday.

“This is not the time for risky new spending schemes that
will increase deficits and raise taxes,” Flaherty told
reporters as he began consultations ahead of the 2011-12
budget, expected early next year.