The TSX ended the day on a positive note, climbing 42.35 to 11,961.06 on Wednesday, while the TSX Venture declined 1.96 points to 1,556.80.

The metals and mining sector also shone, gaining 1.32%, while energy moved 0.93% higher.

Gold, however, ended down $14.20, to $1,108.10 an ounce, while several gold stocks also slid, including Barrick Gold (TSX: T-ABX), down 2.15% to $39.67, Kinross Gold (TSX: T-K), falling 2.6% to $18.54 and Eldorado Gold (TSX: T-ELD), declining 0.6% to $13.27.

In other news, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that wholesale inventories were down 0.2% in January compared to December, while sales climbed 1.3%.

On the TSX, shares of global agribusiness firm Viterra (TSX: T-VIT) climbed 2.4% to $9.88, as the company released its first quarter results, including net earnings of $10.7 million or three cents per share, which compares to a net loss of $33 million or 14 cents per share in the same quarter of 2009.

Viterra also announced on Wednesday that it has signed a definitive merger agreement for its subsidiary to acquire Dakota Growers Pasta Company for $18.28 per share, representing a total enterprise value of USD$240 million.

On the Venture, shares of Eagle Hill Exploration (TSX: V-EAG) surged 18.5 cents to 33 cents, after the company announced initial drill results from hole EAG-10-196 at the Windfall Lake Property, including 19.61 g/t gold over 33.00 metres.

Other stocks on the move included Cline Mining Corporation (TSX: T-CMK), climbing 33.3% to 80 cents, Canadian Shield Resources (TSX: V-EXP), up 32% to 66 cents, Lundin Mining (TSX: T-LUN), gaining 9.5% to $5.17 and Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX: V-VIT), down 10.5% to 94 cents.