TSX ends higher, led by financials, Potash CorpMon Jun 20, 2011...

TSX ends higher, led by financials, Potash Corp
Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:51pm EDT
By Trish Nixon
TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock market index closed higher on Monday after briefly hitting its lowest level since November, as investors stepped in to pick up beaten down financial and materials shares.

The market rose even as concerns remained about Greece's debt crisis. After two days of crisis talks, euro zone finance ministers effectively issued an ultimatum, giving Greece two weeks to approve stricter austerity measures in exchange for emergency loans.

"People have begun to view the Greece bailout as something that will take time but is likely to occur," said Kate Warne, Canadian market strategist at Edward Jones in St. Louis, Missouri. "Whereas last week it seemed that in fact there may actually be more problems getting the deal done."

Potash Corp (POT.TO: Quote) was the most influential gainer on the index, climbing more than 2 percent to C$50.62.

The world's biggest fertilizer producer gained after fellow potash miner Agrium Inc (AGU.TO: Quote) raised its earnings outlook, citing very strong retail sales and increasing nutrient pricing.

Agrium also made the top 10 advancers, as its shares jumped more than 4 percent at C$81.34.