Canadian stocks advance as miners, oil shares rise
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Canadian stocks rallied Monday, extending the prior session's gains, as U.S. consumer spending data and a spillover in hopes from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's Friday speech boosted investor sentiment for economically leveraged companies. The S&P/TSX Composite rose 168 points, or 1.4%, to 12,496. The diversified mining and metals sector rallied the most, up 3.4%. Shares of base metals miners tallied some of the steepest gains. Lundin Mining Corp. gained 8%, while Thompson Creek Metals Co. added 4.1%. Energy firms also rallied as oil prices gained 2%. Cenovus Energy Inc. added 2.2%. Major gold miners fell alongside lower bullion prices.