Energy sector helps lift Toronto stocks

TSX rises again as price of oil heads higher

Canada’s main stock index closed higher as oil prices rose while U.S. markets were boosted in part by gains in the tech sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 70.75 points at 15,046.28.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average ended up 155.75 points at 24,065.59. The S&P 500 index was up 27.69 points at 2,601.30, while the Nasdaq composite was up 117.92 points at 7,023.83.

The Canadian dollar averaged US75.38¢, up 0.02 of a cent from Monday.

The February crude contract closed up US$1.60 at US$52.11 per barrel and the February natural gas contract ended down 9¢ at US$3.50 per mmBTU.

The February gold contract closed down US$2.90 at US$1,288.40 an ounce and the March copper contract was unchanged at US$2.63 a pound.