Toronto stocks climbed Wednesday as energy stocks advanced on concerns about tight oil and gas supplies. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 58.07 points to finish at 7,100.77.

The energy sector surged nearly 2%, extending its run into record territory after Tuesday’s comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan focused attention on soaring natural gas prices.

Gas-producer EnCana gained $1.19 to $53.09, while Canadian Natural Resources jumped 83¢ to $56.92.

Earnings warnings from tech companies helped to pushed the sector down 0.8%.

Texas Instruments warned late Tuesday that earnings in the current quarter would be lower than expected.

That announcement followed profit warnings from Nokia and Motorola.

Shares of TSX-tech bellwether Nortel Networks slipped 6¢ to $4.29, while Celestica fell 43¢ to $21.06.

Toronto momentum was positive as 750 issues advanced and 412 declined. Volume was a solid 244 million shares worth $3.28 billion.

The junior TSX Venture Exchange added 6.24 points to 1,104.42.

In New York, stocks ended higher, lifted by data that showed some signs of recovery in the economy.

The Federal Reserve Bank Beige Book said the end of the Iraq war had provided some boost to U.S. business and consumer sentiment in recent weeks but not enough to lift the economy out of its doldrums.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 128.33 points, or 1.42%, to 9,183.22, rising above 9,100 for the first time since early July 2002. The S&P 500 Index gained 12.64 points, or 1.28%, to 997.48, its highest close since late June 2002.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 18.35 points, or 1.13% to 1,646.02.

The Canadian dollar picked up some strength as the U.S. dollar weakened, jumping 0.49 of a cent to US73.94¢.