Toronto stock market unchanged as markets watch Scotland referendum results

TORONTO -- The Toronto stock market was barely changed at the close amid an independence referendum in Scotland that has the potential to send ripples across global markets.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 6.66 points to 15,465.54. The Canadian dollar found strength, jumping 0.47 of a cent to 91.35 cents US.

Scots are deciding whether they want to leave the United Kingdom. Results are expected early Friday in a vote that polls say is too close to call.

Observers says if Scotland remains in the United Kingdom it would remove a lot of the uncertainty that has developed on equity markets and has helped drive up the value of the U.S. dollar. Some traders have suggested a vote to leave the U.K. could put a damper on the global economic recovery.

On Wall Street, markets rallied with the Dow Jones industrials ahead 109.14 points to 17,265.99, closing at a new all-time high. The S&P 500 index advanced 9.79 points to 2,011.36, also a record high, while the Nasdaq was up 31.24 points at 4,593.43.

Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) said it will begin to charge a $25 fee for a first checked bags on domestic flights. The fee applies to passengers booking the lowest economy class Tango fares as of Thursday for flights beginning Nov. 2. Shares in Air Canada rose 39 cents to $9.01.

Some of the most active companies traded Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (15,465.54, up 6.66 points):

B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO). Miner. Down three cents, or 1.29 per cent, to $2.30 on 8.0 million shares.

Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Insurance. Up 34 cents, or 1.54 per cent, to $22.39 on 6.1 million shares.

TransCanada Corp. (TSX:TRP). Oil and gas. Up $1.95, or 3.31 per cent, to $60.81 on 4.9 million shares.

Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Aerospace. Down seven cents, or 1.90 per cent, to $3.61 on 4.8 million shares.

Torex Gold Resources Inc. (TSX:TXG). Miner. Down four cents, or 2.5 per cent, to $1.56 on 3.5 million shares.

Semafo Inc. (TSX:SMF). Miner. Down 12 cents, or 3.04 per cent, to $3.83 on 3.5 million shares.

Companies reporting major news:

Air Canada (TSX:AC.B). Airline. Up 39 cents, or 4.52 per cent, to $9.01 on 3 million shares. Canadian airline passengers will increasingly feel a tug on their wallets as the country's main air carriers charge millions of their customers fees to check their luggage and introduce new charges designed to boost revenues. Air Canada joined rival WestJet Airlines Thursday in charging a $25 plus tax fee for your first checked bag on domestic flights.

Penn West Petroleum Ltd. (TSX:PWT). Oil and gas. Up 60 cents, or 7.76 per cent, to $8.33 on 3.1 million shares. The company is reclassifying some $80 million of its capital budget this year as operating expenses after a review of accounting irregularities that found hundreds of millions in past expenses had been incorrectly categorized. Penn West (TSX:PWT) says the change means its 2014 capital budget will be $820 million instead of $900 million, but won't affect its development plans.