The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canada's main stock index on Thursday posted its biggest advance in two months, with resources leading broad-based gains, as weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data raised prospects of an early start to Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that the S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 333.29 points at 21,222.69, just short of its recent 21-month high at 21,227.87. U.S. retail sales fell by 0.8 per cent in January, the most in 10 months, weighed by declines at auto dealerships and gasoline service stations. Economists cautioned against reading too much into the sharp drop amid frigid weather and difficulties adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations at the start of the year. Bets for a Fed rate cut of at least 25 basis points in May edged up to 40 per cent, while the odds for June stood at roughly 79 per cent. The Toronto Stock Exchange's energy group jumped 4.3 per cent as the price of oil settled 1.8 per cent higher at $78.03 (U.S.) a barrel, and the materials group added 2.4 per cent. Metal mining companies were helped by higher gold and copper prices; financials added 1.6 per cent, helped by a big jump in Manulife shares.