TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index ended slightly higher yesterday as gold miners got a boost from strong bullion prices, which climbed on persistent concern about the pace of economic recovery.

Gold rose to a one-and-half month high yesterday, gaining for a third consecutive session, after gloomy Japanese economic data prompted safe-haven buying by investors worried about the global economy. Barrick Gold, the world's No.1 gold producer, rose 1.8 percent to C$45.59, while fellow miner Goldcorp was up 2.2 percent at C$42.25.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index finished the day up 24.51 points, or 0.21 percent, at 11,552.76 with six of its 10 main sectors higher.

Economic concerns kept the TSX at the break-even level for most of the day, mimicking Friday's cautious market performance, said David Baskin, president of Baskin Financial Services Inc.

The resource-heavy TSX index shed 2.3 percent last week as investors fretted about the pace of recovery, worries spurred in part by weaker growth in the US.

"The one thing that everybody agrees is a real problem is (US) employment. Until we see that improves I think you're going to see a zigzag pattern," Mr. Baskin said.

"It's a divided market and nobody really quite knows what's going to happen next. When that happens you're going to get days like today," he added.

Energy shares were up 0.31 percent even though oil prices slipped. Suncor Energy rose 0.6 percent to C$33.11, and Canadian Natural Resources fell 1.3 percent at C$33.90.

Research In Motion fell 4.6 percent to C$53.02 after an Indian government source said the BlackBerry maker had assured Indian authorities of limited access to its Messenger services by September 1 and that the company will hold talks this week on giving the government access to enterprise mail.