Despite profit warnings from some of the biggest names in the tech business, U.S. investors ended three days of consecutive losses in a buying mood, albeit a moderate one.

The sole loser among North American markets, Wednesday, was the S&P/TSX, which fell 2.8 points, or 0.03% to 8,481.94. The TSX Venture Exchange fared slightly better, increasing by 5.93 points or, 0.38%, to 1,567.83.

In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 20.95, or 0.21%, at 10,240.29. The S&P 500 Index ended up 2.12 points, or 0.19%, at 1,118.33, based on the latest available data. The Nasdaq composite index was up 2.65 points, or 0.13%, at 1,966.08.

The Canadian dollar gained 0.36 of a cent to US75.71¢.

The Toronto tech sector was adversely affected by the tech woes in the U.S. It finished down 0.29%. Financials fell 0.59%.

The big mover on Bay Street — not enough to keep the TSX in the black, howevcer — was the gold sector. It jumped 2.32% as gold prices increased by 2.5% and following the announcement that the merger between Iamgold Corp. and Wheaton River Minterals Ltd. had collapsed. Iamgold and Wheaton River were among the most active oin the TSX; Iamgold stock surged 76¢ to $8.31 with 12.4 million shares trading hands; Wheaton River fell 7¢ to $3.68 on trading of more than 22.4 million shares. Both companies may still be in play.

On Wall Street, markets ended the three-day losing streak, despite the dire warnings from Alcoa Inc., Yahoo Inc., PeopleSoft Inc. and JDA Software Group Inc. The last two, two of the big software makers, warned that their quarterly earnings will come in below analyst expectations.

Meanwhile, according to reports, former Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth L. Lay was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Houston, almost three years after the energy company collapsed in an accounting scandal.

Details of the sealed indictment are expected to be revealed Thursday. Charges could include fraud, securities fraud and insider trading. Justice Department officials and prosecutors declined to comment.