The TSE 300 inched up late in the session on Monday, continuing its broad upward push as tech issues followed their surging U.S. counterparts, and bank and biotech stocks provided strength for a market heading into the traditionally strong November-April cycle.

Bay Street’s main index closed 33.97 points higher, or 0.46%, at 7,466.40. Volume was strong with more than 100 million shares changing hands.

Tech stocks strengthened late in the session, gaining 0.82%, following strong progress by the Nasdaq.

Tech heavyweight Celestica Inc. rose strongly, although bellwether Nortel Networks Corp. had a lackluster session.

Celestica climbed $2.51, or 3.9%, to $66.75. Nortel, the most heavily traded issue on the day, retreated 26 cents, or 2%, to close at $12.73.

Overall, eight of the 14 TSE subindexes gained ground during the session as strength in biotech issues pulled up the consumer products group 2.52%.

Biovail Corp. rose $4.25, or 5.3%, to close at an all-time high of $84.97, while Angiotech Pharmaceuticals paced net-gainers, surging $5.01, or 6.3%, to finish at $84.00.

All three major stock indexes in the U.S. ended the day at their highest levels since Sept. 11. The climbed 38.03 points, or 2%, to 1,941.23. The Dow Jones rose 23.04 points, or 0.23%, to 9,982.75, inching closer to the key 10,000-point level. The S&P 500 gained 7.08 points, or 0.62%, to 1,157.42.

The CDNX couldn’t keep up with the other exchanges and closed down 41.36 points, or 1.34%, to end the day at 3054.65. Volume was solid with just over 37 million shares.

The Canadian dollar moved up 0.02 cents to 62.54 cents US.