The TSE 300 closed down slightly today, dropping 25.88 points to finish at 7,639.84. Despite the decline, most of yesterday’s gains were maintained suggesting some confidence among investors regarding market levels.

Price fluctuations within the TSE sub-indices were restrained. None moved over 2%. Market breadth was slightly positive, with eight of 14 sub-indices finishing higher.

On the upside, the consumer products advanced, led by a 6.7% gain in QLT. Biovail was also up, advancing 4.6% to close at $50.09. Cinram though ran into selling pressure, dropping 9.1%.

On the downside, the industrials and golds led, with declines of 1.9%. Within the industrials, the movements were almost the reverse of yesterday. While Nortel Networks dropped 5.2% to close at $27.27, RIM gained 9.9% to close at $42.18. Celestica advanced 7% to $53.76 and C-Mac was up 6.2% to $34.50. JDS Uniphase ran into selling pressure as well, dropping 8.09% to $37.50.

Market breadth was also slightly positive, for the first time in several days. Advancers outpace decliners 597 to 451. Volume was slightly restrained, though, at 151million shares.

Bombardier sold off a bit, dropping 2.77% to close at $19.98, while BioChem Pharma was up 3.21% at $34.50.

The financials regained some of the ground they lost over the week. BMO was up 2.86% to $37.80, TD was up 1.05% to $39.55 and Bank of Nova Scotia was up 1.83% to close at $39.05.

Power Financial Corp. recovered somewhat from yesterday’s loss, gaining 1.12% to close $31.60. Manulife, though, was off 3.23% at $39. AGF was also off, dropping 2.95% to close at $24.70.

The CDNX also closed up slightly, gaining 17.84 points to close at 2,980.42. Volume was 39 million shares. Advancers outpace deliners 259 to 180.

The loonie advanced as well, gaining almost half a cent to close up 0.41% at 63.85 cents.

Traders overcame a midday afternoon sell-off in American markets to leave all U.S., indexes up on the day. The Dow Jones industrial average advanced 115.30 to 9,504.78. The Nasdaq composite gained 30.98 points to 1928.68, and the S&P 500 finished up 22.25 at 1,139.83.