The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> ended up 21.77 points, or 0.16 percent, at 13,425.19.

That was its third straight move of less than 0.2 percent, with volumes at roughly one-third typical levels with U.S. markets closed for Thanksgiving.

Bank of Nova Scotia (>> Bank of Nova Scotia) gained 1 percent to C$60.71 and the overall financials group gained 0.3 percent as insurers also moved higher.

"Perhaps investors are trying to make a call on what those earnings (next week) will be, they're jockeying for position," said Allan Small, a senior investment advisor at HollisWealth.

"In my opinion, our banks still represent fairly good value with respect to the yields they provide," he said. "There is value there if you're a growth and income investor."

The materials group added 1.2 percent, with Goldcorp Inc (>> Goldcorp Inc.) up 1.3 percent at C$15.83, fertilizer company Potash Corp (>> Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc) up 1.3 percent at C$26.71 and base metal miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd (>> First Quantum Minerals Limited) jumping 6.4 percent to C$5.12.

Copper prices advanced 1.9 percent to $4,636.15 a tonne. [MET/L]

Heavyweight Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (>> Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc) rose 2.2 percent to C$117.89.

On the negative side, a slip in crude oil prices weighed on Canada's energy producers, with the overall group falling 0.6 percent.

Enbridge Inc (>> Enbridge Inc) fell 2.3 percent to C$47.01, and Suncor Energy Inc (>> Suncor Energy Inc.) slipped 0.5 percent to C$36.42.

Brent crude settled down 71 cents at $45.46, after falling as low as $45 during the session. U.S. crude prices was 53 cents lower at $42.51 a barrel. [O/R]

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Paul Simao and Nick Zieminski)

By Alastair Sharp