The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canada's main stock index edged up to a near five-week high on Thursday, as resource shares advanced ahead of U.S. and Canadian employment data that could guide expectations for central banks' interest-rate cuts. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that the S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 20.35 points at 22,244.02, its highest closing level since May 31. Volumes were lighter than usual, with U.S. markets closed for Independence Day. Investors are focused on Friday, which will bring fresh jobs numbers in both the U.S. and Canada. The data could have implications for interest-rate cuts in both countries. Recent signs of a slowdown in the U.S. economy have led to increased bets the Federal Reserve would begin cutting rates as soon as September, but experts say the Fed will need strong economic evidence before bringing rates down. The risk in the U.S. is that inflation could tick back up again. In Toronto, energy gained ground as the price of oil increased to $84.06 (U.S.) a barrel. Shares of consumer lending company goeasy slid 9.9 per cent after the company announced its chief executive officer Jason Mullins will transition out of his role at year-end.