The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that U.S. and Canadian stocks advanced on Thursday and the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq logged their biggest monthly gains in years as strong corporate earnings offset the war-related oil supply shock. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says oil prices eased and economic data showed the U.S. economy continues to grow at a healthy pace, helping close the book on a month of solid gains. The S&P 500 recorded its biggest monthly percentage gain since November, 2020, while Nasdaq's monthly gain was its largest since April, 2020. The Dow's monthly advance was its biggest since November, 2024. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 645.94 points, or 1.9 per cent, at 33,964.33, marking its highest closing level since April 20 and its biggest daily percentage gain since the end of March. For the month, the index was up 3.65 per cent, recouping much of March's decline. Industrials, powered by Caterpillar shares, put the Dow out front, while technology limited the Nasdaq's gains. The Dow rose 790.33 points, or 1.62 per cent, to 49,652.14, the S&P 500 gained 73.05 points, or 1.02 per cent, to 7,209.00 and the Nasdaq composite gained 219.07 points, or 0.89 per cent, to 24,892.31.