The major indices opened low across North America this morning, but climbed throughout the day and closed in the black.

Today’s advances were relatively restrained, but advances nevertheless. The TSE 300 finished up 1.24% at 7,766, a gain of 95 points.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 60 points at 10,539. The Nasdaq composite index closed up nine points at 2,085, while the S&P 500 was up eight points at 1,216.

The strength today was in the paper and forest products sector, which was ahead a strong 4.5%. Within that sector, Slocan Forest Products was up 13% at $12.99, Abitibi was up 5.6% at $11.80 and Domtar was ahead 6.6% at $14.60.

The market was strong across the TSE’s sub-indices, with only three of the 14 ending lower — transportation, communications, and real estate.

Leading on the upside was the industrial products sub-index, which posted a gain of 2.1%. Both the metals and minerals and financial services sub-indices posted gains greater than 1%.

Market volume though was extremely low. Only 95 million shares were traded today. Market trend among individual issues was positive with advancers outpacing decliners 590 to 409.

For some reason investors still have faith in 360metworks. It was second on the most active list today and ended up 5¢ at 21.5¢.

CAE was ahead 45¢ at $15 on news of its contract with U.S. Air Force.

News that the Bank of Montreal’s Harris Bank acquired the First National Bank of Joliet spurred some interest in BMO. It was up 93¢ at $41.

The CDNX was also quiet today, only some 27 million shares were traded. The venture capital index ended the day up, though. It climbed 34 points to close at 3,160. Market trend was positive with advancers outpacing decliners 216 to 181 declining.

The loonie was heavily sold today, dropping over half a percent. It closed down 0.64% at US65.05¢.