Toronto's main stock index finished the session higher on Tuesday on strength in financial
shares after Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) kicked off quarterly earnings results for Canada's big banks with a surprisingly strong performance.

Also helping investor sentiment was rosier-than-expected U.S. housing and consumer confidence data and news that Ben Bernanke was nominated as chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve for a second term, which ended uncertainty about the central bank's leadership as the economy climbs out of recession.
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The S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE unofficially closed up 127.34 points, or 1.18 percent, at 10,917.31.

(Reporting by Jennifer Kwan; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson)

Canada Ben Bernanke U.S.