By John Tilak. TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index climbed on Wednesday, led by gold miners, after a day of choppy trading as optimism that the U.S.

The next few months promise to be turbulent ones for financial markets, as investors adjust to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's insistence that they judge the course of monetary policy for themselves.

Undeterred by record-high housing prices and bolstered by low borrowing costs, nearly half of Canadian home owners plan to buy a property in the next five years, although intentions vary sharply from city to city, a poll released Wednesday has found.

Most Montrealers are being told they must boil their water before drinking it, a precaution after sediment was found in the water following renovations to a city reservoir.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, the eighth time congressional Republicans have advanced a measure promoting the project.