The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that the S&P 500 ended higher on Thursday, springing back from early losses as investors concerned about AI stocks shifted into Eli Lilly, UnitedHealth and other health care and consumer stocks. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says several technology stocks fell, as investors scrutinized AI-related companies whose debt loads leave them vulnerable to rising interest rates. Canada's main stock index, the S&P/TSX composite, closed at 36,137.10, up 552.64 points, or 1.55 per cent, assisted by strong gains in the materials sector. Among the Toronto sectors, materials rose 3.3 per cent, erasing much of its losses Wednesday, as gold prices rose 2 per cent thanks partly to a weaker U.S. dollar. Three companies were heavy contributors to the S&P 500's gain for the session -- Eli Lilly, UnitedHealth and Walmart. Nvidia dipped 1.8 per cent after chip manufacturer TSMC struck a cautious note on 2027 despite reporting a sixth consecutive record quarterly profit on robust artificial-intelligence-driven demand. Dell Technologies dropped 6.9 per cent and Hewlett Packard Enterprise fell 7.1 per cent. The yield on 10-year Treasuries retreated but remained near multiyear highs.