The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday as technology and metal mining shares notched gains, despite confusion around the timing of a deadline for U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says the S&P 500 ended little changed ahead of quarterly results from Nvidia. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 124.38 points at 25,328.36, its third straight day of gains. U.S. President Donald Trump raised hopes for another month-long pause on 25-per-cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, saying they could take effect on April 2. A White House official, however, said Mr. Trump's previous March 4 deadline for the import duties remained in effect. The materials group rose 1.6 per cent. Technology added 1.2 per cent and heavily weighted financials ended 0.2 per cent higher. National Bank set aside larger-than-expected reserves for bad loans, signalling challenges ahead even as strong income from deal-making helped deliver a profit beat. The company's shares ended 5.5 per cent lower. Energy was a drag in Toronto as the price of oil settled at a two-month low of $68.62 (U.S.) a barrel. On Wall Street, the Dow fell 188.04 points.