TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index finished slightly higher yesterday as a drop in resource issues was offset by optimism that the US Federal Reserve would hold off on raising interest rates.

The heavyweight energy sector led the downside, battered by sagging oil prices after data showed US crude inventories rose amid eroding demand.

Investors had their eyes trained south of the border as the Fed decided to pause in its aggressive campaign of cutting interest rates and held rates steady.

The central bank also signaled greater concern about inflation in its statement, while it said the downside risks to growth looked to have diminished somewhat.

"Basically they set the table that at some point they are more concerned about inflation than the economy, and rate cuts are over," said Clement Gignac, chief economist and strategist at National Bank of Canada in Montreal, adding that rate hikes could be on the way.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 31.53 points, or 0.22 percent, at 14,441.13 with six of its 10 main sectors pushing higher. In a volatile session, the index swung to both sides of the break-even mark, falling as low as 14,259.88.

The energy sector lost 1.2 percent, while the resource-laden materials sector was 1.1 percent lower, with gold producers declining as the price of bullion weakened.

Among energy companies, Canadian Natural Resources was down C$2.28, or 2.3 percent, at C$97.82, while in the gold-mining sector, Barrick Gold was off 64 Canadian cents, or 1.5 percent, to C$40.81.

Fertilizer producer Potash Corp of Saskatchewan also weighed on the materials sector, falling C$6.74, or 2.9 percent, to C$223.25.

Meanwhile, on the upside, the financial sector supported the benchmark, gaining two percent. All of the major banks were higher, including Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which rose C$1.89, or 3.2 percent, to C$61.11.