The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday as megacaps rallied, but gains were limited ahead of inflation reports and major bank earnings later in the week. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that Canadian stocks eked out a minor gain. Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Nvidia were the biggest boosts to the S&P 500 Index, as the benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield held near 4 per cent and a $37-billion (U.S.) auction drew above-average demand. Wednesday's gains left the index just 0.27 per cent away from its record close of 4,796.56 set on Jan. 3, 2022. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 18.44 at 20,989.42, holding below the 20-month high it posted on Monday. The Toronto market's technology sector rose 1.2 per cent, adding to its recent gains, while the consumer staples group was up 0.8 per cent. Energy shares fell 0.9 per cent, as the price of oil settled 1.2 per cent lower at $71.37 (U.S.) a barrel after a surprise jump in U.S. crude stockpiles raised worries about demand in the largest oil market. The price of bitcoin barely reacted to news late Wednesday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds.