Toronto stocks closed higher on Monday as gains in energy, technology and financial issues helped offset a decline in the utilities group. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 53.84 points, or 0.56%, at 9,673.20.

The TSX reported its third-straight day of gains, though volume was low with less than 76 million shares traded.

U.S. markets were closed for the Memorial Day holiday.

Eight of the 10 TSX main groups advanced, led by energy stocks, which climbed 0.87%.

The information technology rose 0.82%, while materials climbed 0.69%.

The heavily weighted financials group advanced 0.45%.

The utilities group, down 0.82%, and health care, off O.28%, struck the day’s only sour notes.

Nortel Networks was the most actively traded issue , with 1,774,600 shares changing hands. Norel shares slipped 1¢, or 0.30%, to end at $3.33.

Bank of Nova Scotia shares rose by 14¢, or 0.35%, to $39.69, in anticipation of the release of its second quarter earnings tomorrow.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index was also up for the day, closing ahead by 5.73 points, or 0.35%, at 1,645.91.

The Canadian dollar fell 0.13¢ basis points to US79.61¢

Statistics Canada reported the current accounts surplus dropped $1.3 billion in the first quarter to $4 billion. It also said manufacturers’ prices rose 50 basis points in April, largely due to the price of oil.