A boost in energy stocks carried the Toronto Stock Exchange higher on Friday, helping the benchmark index finish the week up more than 2%.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 98.23 points, or 0.9%, to close at 11,253.23. For the week, the benchmark index gained 227 points.

Concerns about weak demand for oil sent crude futures down nearly 4%. October crude futures fell US$2.65, or 3.7%, to US$69.29 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude futures ended the week up 1.9%.

But despite Friday’s hefty drop in oil futures, energy stocks on the TSX surged 2.6%.

Shares of EnCana Corp. soared 7% after the company revealed details of its plans to split into two distinct oil and gas companies. EnCana’s stock climbed $4.18 to close at $63.52.

Shares of Suncor Energy Inc. rose 1.6% to $36.72 and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. jumped 3.5% to $70.21.

Gold futures for December delivery rose US$9.60, or 1%, to end at US$1,006.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract ended the week up 1%, marking its fourth straight week of gains.

The gains in gold futures boosted the sub-gold index 1.2% on Friday, while the materials group gained 0.8%.

Inmet Mining Corp. gained $2.15, or 3.8%. to $58.68, and Kinross Gold Corp. advanced 2.7% to $24.33.

Also higher was Iamgold Corp., up 2.9% to $15.18, and Goldcorp. Inc., which gained 1.1% to $44.48.

Financial sector stocks finished up 0.5%.

Shares of Bank of Nova Scotia gained 1.5% to $45.63.

CIBC shares rose 54 cents to $62.94 and Royal Bank of Canada edged up 37 cents to $56.16.

The Venture index gained 12.40 points, or 1%, to close at 1,261.89.

The loonie edged down by a fraction of a cent, to finish the day at US92.71¢.

Meanwhile, a five-day winning streak for American stock market indices came to an end on Friday as equities finished slightly lower. The declines were despite preliminary data from the University of Michigan showing that confidence among U.S. consumers rose more than forecast in September.

But the main indices in New York finished the week with gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 22.07 points, or 0.2%, to 9,605.28, leaving it 1.7% higher for the week.

The S&P 500 index slipped 1.41 points, or 0.1%, to end at 1,042.73, up 2.6% for the week.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 3.12 points, or 0.2%, to 2,080.90. It gained 3.1% for the week.