TSX edges higher as positive U.S. data lifts financials

By John Tilak TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada's main stock index rose slightly on Thursday after positive U.S. jobless claims data helped boost the financial and industrial sectors, overcoming weakness in natural resource shares. Trading has been choppy so far this year, with investors trying to balance their portfolios after the Toronto market advanced 9.6 percent in 2013. A day after a positive private jobs report, figures on Thursday indicated the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week fell slightly more than expected. "I'd like to see a little higher number tomorrow, a little higher number next month and a little higher number in the month after that," said Adrian Mastracci, portfolio manager at KCM Wealth Management.