Technology stocks, powered by an 10% jump in price of Research In Motion Ltd., boosted the Toronto Stock Exchange, while U.S. markets got some good news from the biotech sector.

At close, the Toronto’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 23.92 points or 0.25% to 9715.36, while the TSX Venture Exchange lost 10.90 points or 0.55% to 1977.29. Wall Street’s Dow industrial average advanced 30.15 points or 0.28% at 10804.51. The Nasdaq gained 9.44 points or 0.46% at 2051.44 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 6.75 points or 0.56% to 1206.83.

The Canadian dollar was down 0.15 of a cent to US82.80¢ in late trading.

Toronto markets were fuelled by technology stocks, which jumped 2.49% thanks to the performance of RIM, whose shares jumped $7.02 or 9.63% to $79.95. The move came after the company and Yahoo Inc. announced a new relationship to provide Yahoo’s instant messaging service, Yahoo Messenger, to BlackBerry users.

Energy stocks also bounced back — gaining 0.38% — after oil prices reversed. The price of light, sweet crude for April delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange advanced 27¢ to US$54.70 despite a comment from the president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that oil-producing countries may decide to increase production at this week’s meeting in Iran.

Shares in Suncor Energy added 26¢ to $47.03 after a report that the company will launch a $10-billion oilsands project as higher prices for crude oil fuel a new boom in northern Alberta. The firm was expected to file a regulatory application for its Voyageur project later Monday.

But gold stocks lost ground Monday, down 1.30% on the day, as the price of gold in New York gave up $5.10 to US$440.40 an ounce as the U.S. dollar rebounded from last week’s losses. Barrick Gold Corp. lost 25¢ or 0.97% to $25.55.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. was the most active Toronto stock, up 76¢ or 4.87% to $16.36 on top of Friday’s 40% runup, in the wake of the collapse of rival Jetsgo, announced Friday. Air Canada’s holding company, ACE Aviation Holdings, was ahead 69¢ or 1.86% to $37.69.

In New York, stocks rose late in the session, after positive news on Genentech Inc., but the higher oil prices limited gains.

Genentech surged 24.77% or $10.92 to $55, after the U.S. National Cancer Institute said Avastin helps lung cancer patients live longer when combined with standard chemotherapy.