The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> ended up 21.77 points, or 0.16 percent, at 13,425.19.
That was its third straight move of less than 0.2 percent, with volumes at roughly one-third typical levels with U.S. markets closed for Thanksgiving.
Bank of Nova Scotia (>> Bank of Nova Scotia) gained 1 percent to C$60.71 and the overall financials group gained 0.3 percent as insurers also moved higher.
"Perhaps investors are trying to make a call on what those earnings (next week) will be, they're jockeying for position," said Allan Small, a senior investment advisor at HollisWealth.
"In my opinion, our banks still represent fairly good value with respect to the yields they provide," he said. "There is value there if you're a growth and income investor."
The materials group added 1.2 percent, with Goldcorp Inc (>> Goldcorp Inc.) up 1.3 percent at C$15.83, fertilizer company Potash Corp (>> Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc) up 1.3 percent at C$26.71 and base metal miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd (>> First Quantum Minerals Limited) jumping 6.4 percent to C$5.12.
Copper prices
Heavyweight Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (>> Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc) rose 2.2 percent to C$117.89.
On the negative side, a slip in crude oil prices weighed on Canada's energy producers, with the overall group falling 0.6 percent.
Enbridge Inc (>> Enbridge Inc) fell 2.3 percent to C$47.01, and Suncor Energy Inc (>> Suncor Energy Inc.) slipped 0.5 percent to C$36.42.
Brent crude
(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Paul Simao and Nick Zieminski)
By Alastair Sharp