Financial and resource stocks, energy shares included despite falling crude prices, fueled a strong finish to the week and the month on Toronto markets, while U.S. investors pushed U.S. markets to a triple-digit gain.

At close, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 94.20 points or 1.02% at 9369.30, while the TSX Venture Exchange added 17.11 points or 1.02% to 1702.62.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrials finished ahead by 122.14 points or 1.21% at 10192.51. The Nasdaq composite advanced 17.47 points or 0.92% at 1921.65. The S&P 500 index gained 13.63 points or 1.19% at 1156.85.

The Canadian dollar was down more than half a cent late in the day, losing 0.51 of a cent to US79.38. The currency has been pressured this week after Prime Minister Paul Martin agreed to include $4.6 billion in new social spending in the federal budget in return for parliamentary support from the New Democratic Party.

On Bay Street, the gains were led by gold and metals stocks, which jumped 2.10% and 1.94%, respectively. Financials added 1.03%, and tech stocks were up 0.82%. All sectors in fact were in the black, including energy shares, up 0.21%.

On Wall Street, the falling crude made for a good end to a volatile week and month. A late sell-off in crude futures helped Wall Street solidify its gains in an otherwise uncertain session. A barrel of light crude settled at US$49.72, down $2.05, on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its lowest level since Feb. 18. Oil prices began the week above US$55 per barrel.

The buying was further buoyed by economic data that showed prices and labor costs remained in check. The Commerce Department reported a 0.5 percent increase in income and a 0.6 percent hike in spending for March, and the Labor Department said labor costs for businesses were falling. Both are key inflation readings that bode well for interest rates and the economy.