The bank results helped calm investor fears about the impact a sluggish economy and the oil-price slump are having on financial institutions.

The Toronto stock market's benchmark index recorded at 3.8 percent gain this month, lifted by a rebound in its energy and financial sectors.

“The volatility in oil prices continues to drive the energy sector, and it seems like it's trying to find a base,” said Youssef Zohny, portfolio manager at StennerZohny Investment Partners of Richardson GMP Ltd, which manages about C$28.3 billion in assets.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> closed down 6.82 points, or 0.04 percent, at 15,234.34. Seven of the 10 main sectors on the index were in the red.

In the financial sector, Toronto-Dominion Bank (>> Toronto-Dominion Bank) rose 0.6 percent to C$54.80, and Royal Bank of Canada (>> Royal Bank of Canada) added 0.3 percent to C$78.31.

The gold-mining sector advanced 1 percent. Barrick Gold Corp (>> Barrick Gold Corp.) gained 1.8 percent to C$16.26, and Goldcorp Inc (>> Goldcorp Inc.) rose 1.2 percent to C$27.53.

($1=$1.25 Canadian)

(Editing by Jonathan Oatis; and Peter Galloway)

By John Tilak