Toronto stocks rose Tuesday, buoyed along by the energy, gold and information technology indices, while the Canadian dollar hit its highest level in 28 years.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 39.9, or 0.33%, to 12,274.46.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups finished higher on the session.

The energy index gained 0.95% as light, sweet crude for June delivery rose 91¢ to settle at US$74.61 a barrel. Geopolitical concerns involving Iran pushed oil prices higher.

EnCana Corp. moved ahead $1.37, or 2.43%, to $57.69.

The gold index, a subset of materials, gained 1.84%.

Gold for June delivery closed up $7.20 at US$667.40 an ounce.

Kinross Gold Corp. gained 23¢, or 1.65%, to $14.20.

The information technology sector gained 1.26%. ATI Technologies moved up 87¢, or 5.11%, to $17.90.

The Canadian dollar gained .55 of a cent to settle at US90.38¢ — its highest close since June 1978.

The S&P/TSX Venture Exchange index lifted 10.33, or 0.33%, to 3,140.32.

In New York, strong corporate earnings and higher commodity prices boosted markets to multi-year highs.

The Dow industrials rose 73.16 points to 11,416.5, its best close in more than six years. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 5.05 points to 2,309.84. The S&P 500 gained 8.02, or 0.61%, to 1,313.21, its best level in more than five years.