The S&P/TSX Composite climbed 0.6% to close at 28,340 on Tuesday as stronger interest income and sharply lower loan loss provisions at Bank of Montreal and Scotiabank delivered a robust start to earnings season and lifted the financial sector to outperform despite broader headwinds. BMO rose 4.7% after reporting net income up 17% to C$2.33 billion, driven by net interest income of C$5.5 billion and credit provisions slipping to C$797 million, well below last year and analysts' expectations. Scotiabank gained 6.9% as net interest income increased to C$5.49 billion and profit rose to C$2.52 billion, reflecting wider margins and improved loan performance amid easing trade frictions. Those earnings beats reduced uncertainty around the credit cycle and helped underpin the index even as questions about Federal Reserve governance and softer oil weighed on broader markets.