Toronto stocks rallied again Wednesday as energy and gold issues were helped by higher oil and bullion prices.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 124.95 points, or 1.06%, at 11,879.55.

Overall, seven of the 10 TSX main groups ended higher.

The energy subgroup, which makes up about a third of the main index, jumped 2.12%.

The price of crude oil settled up 19¢ at US$73.94 a barrel.

Weekly data showed U.S. gasoline inventories fell last week by 3.2 million barrels, much more than the 200,000 barrels forecast by analysts.

In Toronto, Talisman Energy closed up 48 ¢, or 2.55%, at $19.27.

Shares in the gold sector advanced 1.67%.

Barrick Gold ended up 55 ¢, or 1.64%, at $34.05.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index gained 23.71 points, or 0.94%, to close at 2,545. 08.

The Canadian dollar closed at US88.12¢, up half a cent.

In New York, U.S. stocks finished little changed after a volatile session.

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book of regional economic conditions sent investors mixed messages as it indicated that the economy was slowing and prices were rising in some areas, but it reinforced views that the Fed may soon end its cycle of interest-rate hikes.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 1.20 points, or 0.01%, to close at 11,102.51.

The S&P 500 was down just 0.48 of a point, or 0.04%, at 1,268.40. The Nasdaq composite index was down 3.44 points, or 0.17%, at 2,070.46.