The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, led by technology and metal mining shares, as the prospect of a ceasefire extension in the Iran war boosted investor sentiment. The unbylined item says the S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 105.65 points at 34,517.70. "Today, we are seeing the TSX really being driven less by individual stock stories and more by macro economics," said Robert Gill at Fairbank Investment Management. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted record closing highs after news reports said the U.S. and Iran might extend their ceasefire for 60 days, while investors also digested key inflation data. In Toronto, the tech sector rallied 2.6 per cent, with shares of e-commerce company Shopify up 7.4 per cent. The materials group added 1.9 per cent as gold prices climbed. Big lenders RBC, TD Bank and CIBC beat second-quarter profit estimates, helped by strong domestic growth and bucking concerns arising from trade uncertainty and the impact of Middle East conflicts. Most banks ended relatively flat, but CIBC closed the session 5.4 per cent lower. "You are seeing a bit of valuation discipline returning in certain segments of the market," Mr. Gill said.