The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that North American stock indexes finished higher in choppy trading on Wednesday, as investors cheered the likely easing of trade tensions between the United States and major trading partners. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says stocks turned positive after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a one-month delay of auto tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Earlier, Wall Street had lost ground following mixed economic data and as investors also worried about a trade war. "We are on the tariff roller coaster," said Wasif Latif at Sarmaya Partners in New Jersey. ADP data showed U.S. private payrolls increased in February at the slowest pace in seven months. Investors now await Friday's crucial payrolls report. Riskier equities in the U.S. have sold off over the past few weeks as investors worried Mr. Trump's trade policies would amplify inflation pressures, slow the economy and eat into corporate profits. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 298.82 points or 1.2 per cent at 24,870.82. The materials group climbed 3.4 per cent as China's move to unlock more fiscal stimulus and a proposed 500-billion-euro infrastructure fund in Germany contributed to higher copper prices.