The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, with the index moving closer to the record closing high it posted nearly three months ago as financial and consumer discretionary shares climbed. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says the S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 247.67 points at 34,409.49, marking the highest closing level since the index notched an all-time peak on March 2. Wall Street's main indexes clawed back some earlier declines to end higher as investors hoped for a Middle East peace deal even as the United States and Iran took directly opposing stances over Tehran's uranium stockpile and controls on the Strait of Hormuz. Heavily weighted financials advanced 1.1 per cent, with shares of Bank of Montreal adding 1.5 per cent. Canada's major banks are due to report quarterly earnings next week. Shares of auto parts supplier Magna International gained 4.1 per cent, helping to lift the consumer discretionary sector by 1.6 per cent. Utilities added 1.2 per cent as bond yields fell. The Canadian 10-year yield eased 4.1 basis points to 3.550 per cent. The energy group dipped 0.1 per cent as the price of oil settled 1.9 per cent lower at $96.35 (U.S.) a barrel.