Toronto stocks closed higher after as seesaw session on Tuesday. Plummeting consumer confidence in the United States had investors worried about the state of the U.S. economy.

The TSE 300 gained 40.04 points to close at 6,702.01. The composite index climbed sharply this morning, then fell flat this afternoon before rising again.

On a sector basis, the market was mixed, with seven of the TSE’s 14 sub-indices posting gains, while seven suffered losses. The winners were led by a 3% jump in real estate, but solid advances in industrial and financial services gave the TSE 300 most of today’s gains.

The oil and gas sub-index dropped more than 1.5% as oil prices continue to decline. Golds declined today as well.

Market momentum was mixed as well. Declines edged out advances, 544 to 523 with 200 issues closing unchanged. Volume was 123 million shares.

Anderson Exploration was the day’s top trader at 18 million shares. The oil company stock slipped 34¢ to $38.66.

Nortel Networks, the number two trader on Tuesday, gained 23¢, or 2.8%, to $8.45. Bombardier posted a 6% gain, rising 82¢ to $14.45.

CIBC led the banks higher today, adding 35¢ to $51.30. TD, BMO and Scotia also posted gains.

Among travel stocks, today’s results were mixed. Fairmont Hotels was up nearly 10% to $25.15, while Air Canada slipped 2¢ to $3.20,

The Canadian Venture Exchange index closed down 18.29 at 2,769.03 Trading was active on a volume of 26.7 million shares, with 167 advances, 177 declines and 570 issues unchanged.

In New York, trading was choppy. Stocks squeaked out gains for a second straight session in the face of a plunge in consumer confidence and an earnings warning from AOL Time Warner.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 56.11 points to 8,659.97. The Nasdaq composite index edged up 2.24 to 1,501.64. The S&P 500 advanced 8.82 to 1,012.27.