TSX ends up 0.5 at 24,033.83
Materials group rises 1.5 as gold climbs
Technology advances 2
Energy falls 3.1; oil settles 2.9 lower

Reuters Canada39;s commoditylinked main stock index closed above the 24,000 threshold for the first time on Thursday as China39;s assurance of more stimulus offset pressure on energy shares after oil prices tumbled.

The Toronto Stock Exchange39;s SPTSX composite index ended up 127.95 points, or 0.5, at 24,033.83, eclipsing the record closing high it posted on Tuesday.

China plans to issue special sovereign bonds worth about 2 trillion yuan 284.43 billion this year as part of a fresh fiscal stimulus, said two sources with knowledge of the matter.

China is obviously a big industrial consumer of things like copper and metals, said Brian Madden, chief investment officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel.

The stimulus is positive for global economic growth, Chinese economic growth and by extension demand for Canadian resources, Madden added.

The materials sector, which includes fertilizer companies and metal mining shares, was up 1.5 as gold extended its recordsetting run and copper jumped more than 3.

Technology rose 2, tracking gains for Wall Street39;s techheavy Nasdaq following Micron Technology39;s upbeat firstquarter forecast.

Consumer discretionary was also a standout, adding 1.8, as shares of auto parts supplier Magna International clawed back much of the previous day39;s sharp decline.

TD Bank named Andy Bregenzer and Jill…