Toronto stocks got a boost from energy shares Thursday as oil prices scaled new highs. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 48.25 points, or 0.5%, at 9,760.80. Volume was relatively light at 126 million shares.

Seven of the 10 TSX groups were higher, with only the financials and the two consumer groups lower.

Energy stocks were up 1.65%. April crude last stood at US$57.15 a barrel, up 1.2%, or 69¢.

Talisman Energy was up $1.59, or 3.95%, to $41.81, while Suncor Energy juped $1.37, or 2.93%, to $48.08.

Technology stocks advanced nearly 1%

The materials group was 0.71% higher, as gains in base metals stocks offset losses in gold shares.

The industrial group was up 0.5%.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index was off 0.73 of a point at 1,964.19.

U.S. stocks advanced Thursday as oil prices backed off record highs, with gains in technology shares leading a modest rebound from the prior session’s steep losses.

At midday, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 5.10 points at 10,638.17 after closing out the prior session at a three-week low

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index climbed 6.43 points to 2,022.18 while the S&P 500 rose 3.75 points to 1,191.52.

Meanwhile, shares of insurance giant American International Group gave up 1.8% after the insurer said it would delay the filing its annual report due to its recent boardroom shuffle which included the departure of long-time chief executive Maurice Greenberg.