TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index ended slightly higher yesterday on strength in gold miners, as bullion prices climbed on broader uncertainty about the economic recovery.

Barrick Gold, the world's No.1 producer, rose 1.5 percent to C$49.95, while Goldcorp was up nearly two percent at C$47.30

Despite the higher close, however, investors remained generally uncertain about the fragile recovery after minutes of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting, said Elvis Picardo, an analyst and strategist at Global Securities in Vancouver.

The outlook for the US economy would have to deteriorate "appreciably" to spur fresh support from the Federal Reserve, the minutes released yesterday showed.

"That news comes at a times when investors are already very skittish, already very nervous about the prospects of US economic growth," said Mr. Picardo.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index finished the day up 18.31 points, or 0.15 percent, at 11,913.86, with half of the index's 10 main groups higher.

The TSX ended the month up 1.7 percent.

On the downside the hefty energy sector was off 0.6 percent, with Suncor Energy sliding 1.9 percent to C$32.31 and Canadian Natural Resources down 0.7 percent at C$34.30.

Oil prices slid as traders positioned ahead of weekly inventory reports that are forecast to show US crude stocks rose last week

Financials sagged 0.1 percent, with Bank of Nova Scotia down 1.3 percent at C$51.25 after it posted a higher quarterly profit but came in slightly below expectations.

Research In Motion tumbled 5.5 percent to C$45.70 after a brokerage survey suggested the company was under threat as its corporate customers may soon abandon the BlackBerry in favor of the Apple iPhone or Andriod-based smartphones.