Toronto stocks were higher Wednesday lifted by gains in energy and materials issues. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 37.43 points, or 0.39%, at 9,656.50.

Volume was 103 million shares.

The price of crude oil continued to retreat and investors felt more positive about supplies in the U.S. However, trading was cautious as crude stayed well above US$55 a barrel.

Overall, seven of the 10 TSX main groups were higher, led by 0.98% rise in the energy group. The materials group was up 0.59%.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index was down 9.93 points, or 0.53%, at 1,862.43.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 53.22 points, or 0.51%, at 10,511.68.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 12.90 points, or 0.65%, at 2,012.22. The broader S&P 500 rose 6.27 points, or 0.53%, at 1,187.66.