04:22 PM EDT, 06/04/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday set its second record close in three sessions, with most sectors higher as investors returned for more buying after a day-prior drop, while there continues to be a general satisfaction in the market that the Canadian federal government is working on strengthening the economy.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed up 415.52 points, or 1.2%, to 35,217.06, beating Tuesday's record close of 35,169.46. Most sectors were higher, led by Health Care, up 3.2%. But the Battery Metals Index fell 4.5%.

According to FactSet the TSX going in to today was up 11.13% from its 2026 closing low of 31317.41 hit March 20 and year to date up 3,088.78 points or 9.74%.

Base Metals were down 0.9% even though gold prices were higher by midafternoon Thursday as the dollar and treasury yields weakened, while oil prices dropped after Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire agreement, lowering the inflation fears that have kept the precious mental rangebound since the start of the war between the United States and Iran. Gold for July delivery was up US$40.50 to US$4,507.40 per ounce.

Energy was up 1.2% even as West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down 3.1%. WTI crude oil for July delivery was down US$2.98 to settle at US$93.04 per barrel, while August Brent oil was down US$3.53 to US$94.28.

After months of delay, the federal government has unveiled its AI strategy Thursday, outlining a vision focused on job creation, sovereignty and increased AI adoption, CTV News noted. But the plan lacks details on how Canadians will be protected from the technology's potentially adverse effects, it said.

CTV News noted the strategy explicitly pledges to help create 250,000 jobs by 2031 and generate an additional $200 billion of economic growth. But it also noted the Conference Board of Canada recently projected AI and automation could lead to an initial loss of 550,000 jobs by 2030 as businesses restructure. In a technical briefing with reporters prior to today's announcement, government officials said they don't contest or agree with the Conference Board of Canada report, but will "monitor the impacts of potential displacements", CTV noted. "We have done a high adoption scenario to be able to understand what we believe will be created as a function of sectors on a high adoption scale," the official said.

Meanwhile, the federal government announced a new industry-led alliance aimed at growing the skilled workforce for Canada's mining industry, which is struggling to fill key jobs, The Canadian Press reported. It noted jobs Minister Patty Hajdu made the announcement Thursday in southwestern Nova Scotia, saying the new body, dubbed the mining and minerals workforce alliance, is part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's drive to build a more independent economy.