TORONTO (Reuters) — The Toronto Stock Exchange’s main index ended flat, retaining recent gains and hovering near its record high, as falling oil prices helped offset another day of strong earnings.The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 5.97 points, or 0.05 percent, at 12,335.68. Overall, six of the TSX index’s 10 main groups were lower.

Like the previous session, a handful of companies reported better than expected earnings, which briefly elevated the TSX index to within 80 points of its record high, set April 19.

But as US oil futures fell more than $1 to $60.36 a barrel, shares of energy producers weighed the market down. Oil and gas companies, which account for about a third of the index, represented the four biggest losers on the day and as a group lost 0.6 percent.

“One might have thought you’d run into a little profit-taking, but it’s fighting hard to stay up, which I think is very encouraging after the really strong day we had yesterday,” said John Kinsey, a portfolio manager with Caldwell Securities Ltd. in Toronto. “We’re still fairly bullish on commodity prices, so as long as India and China stay healthy and as long as the U.S. doesn’t get trashed, I think commodities will continue to do well — and that will auger well for the Canadian market because of its high content.”

Suncor Energy Inc.’s profit topped estimates but Canada’s second-largest oil sands producer couldn’t shake off the retreating oil price and fell C$1.36, or 1.5 percent, to C$87.03.

EnCana Corp. was off 84 Canadian cents, or 1.5 percent, at C$53.86.

However, estimate-beating earnings by Petro-Canada , which the company attributed to strong oil sands, refining and retailing returns, were applauded by investors. Petro-Canada shares rose 80 Canadian cents, or 1.7 percent, to C$48.80.

Sun Life Financial Inc. led all gainers, rising 79 Canadian cents, or 1.7 percent, to C$46.26, after the big insurer posted a record quarterly profit that also topped forecasts.

The financial services sector, which like the energy sector accounts for about a third of the TSX index, rose 0.2 percent.

Electronic publisher Thomson Corp. fell C$1, or 2.1 percent, to C$46.65 as its higher third-quarter earnings fell short of estimates.

The TSX index has now gained 6.2 percent in 11 sessions, while in the United States the Dow Jones industrial average has hit a series of record highs.

“Equity markets in North America are all performing strongly, and Toronto has lagged the US for a couple of months just because of the pullback in commodity prices,” said Fergal Smith, at Action Economics.