Toronto stocks yanked higher by robust resources

By Leah Schnurr

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index popped up more than 1 percent on Thursday, propelled further into record high territory by strong resource and financial shares.

Inmet Mining (IMN.TO: Quote) was the biggest net gainer on the day, rising C$6.25, or 9.3 percent, to C$73.75. Fertilizer company Potash Corp of Saskatchewan (POT.TO: Quote) was also among the leaders, finishing up C$5.28, or 2.7 percent, at C$204.50.

Gold producers also jumped, benefiting from rising gold prices. Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM.TO: Quote) was up C$3.38, or 5.3 percent, at C$67.29, while the gold subindex gained 3.6 percent.

The S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE closed up 201.75 points, or 1.38 percent, at 14,828.06 with all but one of its 10 main sectors moving higher.

The surge helped the benchmark climb further into record territory, continuing the week's trend after it broke last summer's record high on Monday.

The financials sector, the biggest group on the index by weight, rose 1.6 percent, with Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO: Quote) rising 94 Canadian cents, or 1.4 percent, to C$68.51, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM.TO: Quote) up 83 Canadian cents, or 1.1 percent, at C$74.84.

Adrian Mastracci, portfolio manager and president at KCM Wealth Management Inc., in Vancouver, said that banks were helped by easing trepidation over what problems may be still lurking in the financial sector.

"I think as investors look at more news being disseminated, as some of the financials have reported the potential losses that they're going to take, I guess they feel that we know more of the situation," Mastracci said.