The S&P TSX Composite Index rose about 0.2% to trade above the 32,250 level for the first time on Tuesday, extending the record highs set in the previous session as optimism toward the North American economic outlook supported risk appetite. Banks followed the broader equity momentum, with RBC up 0.9%, TD Bank gaining 0.2%, BMO rising 0.5% and CIBC advancing 0.6%, all trading near record levels amid expectations of resilient credit demand, particularly through their US operations. Major miners Barrick and Wheaton Precious climbed more than 1% as precious metals extended their rally, supported by firmer safe haven demand after reports of media crackdowns in Venezuela following Delcy Rodriguez’s swearing in as president and the recent US capture of Nicolas Maduro. By contrast, energy producers lagged, as prospects of renewed Venezuelan crude shipments to the US weighed on the market share outlook for Canadian oil exporters.