Dec. 18, 2009 (Baystreet.ca) --
Technology stocks are leading Toronto's main index higher on Friday after a strong quarterly earnings report from Research in Motion. The S&P/TSX Composite index improved 80.58 points to begin the week's last session at 11,553.64. Tech stocks are up as RIM has gained 12.1%. The Blackberry maker reported that its third-quarter net income increased to $628.37 million U.S. or $1.10 U.S. per share from $396.30 million U.S. or $0.69 U.S. per share last year. Analysts expected the company to report profit of $1.04 per share U.S. Meanwhile, Patheon has added 2.1% despite reporting fourth-quarter net income of $4.6 million U.S., compared to $37.3 million U.S. last year. Royal Gold agreed to acquire International Royalty Corp. in a cash and stock deal worth about $749 million. Enerflex Systems Income Fund raised its offer to acquire Toromont Industries Ltd. to $14.25 per unit or about $315.6 million. On the economic front, wholesale sales climbed by 0.3% in the month of October, compared to a revised gain of 0.1% in the prior month. Analysts expected a 0.1% increase. The Canadian dollar strengthened 0.62 cents to 94.01 cents U.S. ON BAYSTREET All but two of the 14 TSX subgroups rebounded early Friday. Information technology vaulted 3.6%, followed by gold, up 1.1% and energy stocks, gaining 0.8%. The two laggards were real-estate stocks, ahead 0.1%, while health-care listed only slightly lower. The TSX Venture Exchange gained 4.82 points to 1,425.97, while the Nasdaq Canada index jacked up 57.83 points to 747.03 ON WALLSTREET In New York, stocks posted early gains Friday, rebounding from a triple-digit selloff in the previous session, with technology shares leading a day light on economic news. The Dow Jones Industrials put on 44.06 points to 10,352.22, while the S&P 500 moved higher by 6.39 points to 1,102.47, while the Nasdaq regained 25.74 to 2,205.79. Oracle, the world's number-two business software maker, reported earnings per share of 39 cents U.S., beating the forecast of 36 cents U.S. Oracle shares were up 5.2% in early trade Friday. But trading could be volatile since Friday is also quadruple witching -- a quarterly event when stock index futures, stock index options, single stock futures and stock options all expire simultaneously. Nike reported its earnings fell to 76 cents U.S. in the second fiscal quarter from 80 cents U.S. per share a year earlier. Pepsi announced late Thursday that it will not advertise in this season's Super Bowl. The beverage giant has advertised the past 23 years, and was among the top four advertisers during last season's game. Treasury prices eased back, picking up yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 3.50% from Thursday's 3.48%. Prices and yields move in opposite directions. The price of a barrel of oil gained $1.71 to $74.36 U.S. Gold prices were flat at $1,108 an ounce U.S.