TSX recap: Index climbs 0.40% on banking, batteries

Canada's main stock index posted a small gain Wednesday, led higher by financials and battery metals, while U.S. markets were mixed.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed up 79.43 points, or 0.40 per cent, at 20,116.20.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 13.44 points at 35,430.42. The S&P 500 Index was down 4.31 points at 4,550.58, while the Nasdaq Composite was down 23.27 points at 14,258.49.

U.S. markets started off in the green thanks to an easing in bond yields, said Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments, though the modest gains faded somewhat into the afternoon.