Toronto’s main stock index showed slight gains at the luncheon bell Wednesday, as the suspense over Europe lingered.
The S&P TSX Composite Index moved higher by 28.60 points to greet Wednesday noon at 12,383.07.
The Canadian dollar added 0.21 of a cent to 100.34 cents U.S.
In Canada, Talisman Energy Inc. rose 1.1% after reporting a narrower loss in the fourth quarter.
Cenovus Energy Inc., which more than tripled its quarterly earnings and boosted its dividend, fell 0.1%.
Elsewhere, Whitecap Resources forged ahead 2.7%, while Eldorado Gold gained 3%, and Suncor Energy Inc. climbed 2%.
The oft-maligned Research In Motion also tacked on nearly 3% in morning trading.
The economic cupboard was bare except for word from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), which said national resale housing activity retreated 4.5% in January 2012 from December. This marks the first monthly decline since August 2011 and the biggest monthly decline since July 2010.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 8.70 points to 1,638.73, while the Nasdaq Canada index grew 5.38 points to 417.93
Nine of the 14 Toronto subgroups remained in positive country at noon hour. Information technology and materials moved ahead 0.7% each, while energy ticked 0.6% higher.
The five laggards were weighed mostly by global base metals was 0.3%, consumer staples slid 0.2%, and financials dipped 0.1%.
ON WALLSTREET
In New York, stocks were mixed early Wednesday as investors were encouraged by better-than-expected European economic data and China's support for the euro-zone, but kept a wary eye on developments in Greece.
The Dow Jones Industrials faded 22.86 points by midday to 12,855.40.
The S&P 500 inched ahead 4.52 points to 1,355.02, while the tech-focused Nasdaq improved 22.95 points to 2,954.78
Comcast shares popped after the cable provider beat estimates for its fourth-quarter profit and revenue, and announced a 44% increase to its dividend -- as well as a $6.5-billion U.S. stock buyback program.
Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch surged even after the retailer's fourth-quarter profit fell from a year ago.
Shares of Dean Foods jumped after the company's fourth-quarter loss narrowed compared to a year earlier.
Devon Energy's stock moved higher on the company's higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, as production of oil and gas rose.
Shares of Hartford Financial spiked after hedge fund manager John Paulson ramped up pressure on the company, calling for it to spin off the property-and-casualty business from the life insurance business. Paulson trimmed his stake in the company during the fourth quarter, but remains Hartford's largest shareholder.
Shares of Zynga were down sharply after the social gaming company posted a net loss of $404 million U.S. for its full fiscal year due to large stock-based compensation expenses.
Deere &Co.'s stock dipped after the company's 11% sales growth rate during the fiscal first quarter missed its own prediction of 16% to 18% sales growth for the quarter.
Procter & Gamble has found a new buyer for its Pringles unit. Cereal maker Kellogg Co. will pay $2.7 billion U.S. for the distinctively shaped potato chip product. P&G was looking for a buyer for Pringles after a previous deal fell through last week, in the wake of a scandal at would-be buyer Diamond Foods.
Shares of Madison Square Garden, the parent company of the New York Knicks basketball team, continued their rally after surprise star Jeremy Lin won Tuesday's game in Toronto on a last-second basket.
A much anticipated meeting of euro-zone finance ministers scheduled for Wednesday was canceled a day earlier. Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads the Eurogroup of 17 euro-zone finance ministers, said more work needed to be done between Greece and its bailout partners, and that he would hold a conference call in place of Wednesday's meeting.
Greece needs the finance ministers to approve its latest economic reform proposal, in order to secure bailout funds to avoid defaulting on a €14.5-billion bond redemption in March.
The overall euro-zone economy shrank for the first time in more than two years in the fourth quarter of 2011, but the 0.3% decline was not as bad as economists expected. The latest figures were helped by a smaller-than-expected drop in German GDP and surprise growth in France -- the euro-zone's two largest economies.
Meanwhile, a China-European Union summit ended Tuesday with promises for more support from Beijing for debt-straddled Europe.
On the economic calendar, the Empire Manufacturing survey rose to 19.5 in February, from 13.5 the previous month. Analysts were expecting the survey to come in at 14.0.
Industrial production was flat in January, compared to a 1% rise the previous month. Analysts were expecting production to rise by 0.6%.
The February installment of the National Association of Home Builders' Housing Market Index is expected to stand at 26, up from 25 in January.
The Federal Reserve will today release the minutes from its monetary policy meeting in late January.
Treasury prices for the 10-year note eased a bit, lifting yields to 1.93% from Tuesday’s 1.92%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil for February delivery gained 99 cents to $101.73 U.S. a barrel.
Gold futures for April delivery gained $14.20 to $1,731.90 U.S. an ounce.
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