The benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange jumped 2.7% higher on Friday, driven by gains in the energy sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 246.41 points, or 2.74%, to close at 9,234.11 points.

All but one of the 10 TSX main sectors ended higher, led by the energy group, which surged 6.3%.

Big gainers included Suncor Energy, up 8.9% at $25.83, Petro-Canada ahead 8.9% at $29.11, and Canadian Natural Resources gaining 6.7% to $51.99.

Crude oil jumped $1.74, or 4%, to US$46.34 a barrel, lifted by fears over European fuel availability amid rising Middle East tensions and a spat between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas supplies.

The industrials group rose 3%, with Toromont Industries climbing 4%, to $23.94, Canadian Pacific Railway rising 2.6% to $42.06, and Canadian National Railways jumping 3.3% to $46.25.

Consumer staples was the sole sector ending lower, down 0.68%.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index soared 49.67 points, or 6.23%, to 846.69.

The Canadian dollar edged up 0.16 of a cent to US82.26¢.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 258.3 points, or 2.94%, to 9,034.69.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 55.18 points, or 3.5%, to 1,632.21, while the S&P 500 added 28.55 points, or 3.16%, to 931.8.

For the week, the Dow was up 6.1%, the S&P 500 gained 6.8% and the Nasdaq rose 6.7%.

IE