Energy, Mining Stocks Help TSX Inch Higher -- Canadian Commentary

(RTTNews) - Canadian stocks inched higher Monday, powered by strong gains in the energy and mining sectors.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 32.23 point, or 0.25 percent, to 12,845.63.

Weakness among gold and financial put a cap on the day's advance.

Health care stocks also tumbled, with Valeant (VRX.TO) dropping another 11 percent on a negative note from analysts.

U.S. gold for April was down $26 at $1206 an ounce on the Comex.

Barrick Gold (ABX, ABX.TO) will spend $1.3 billion on Nevada mines and another $650 million in Peru, the company announced. Shares were up 1.7 percent.

Energy stocks were up more than 2 percent, extending recent gains.

March WTI oil gained $1.84, or 6.2%, to settle at $31.48/bbl on the final day of the March contract.

Banks will be in focus for the rest of the week.

Profits from the big six banks are expected to be suppressed by exposure to the sluggish energy sector.

Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) is first to report tomorrow.