The gold and energy sectors sent Toronto stocks to a new record high close on the first day of trading in 2006.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished up 169.32 points, or 1.5%, at 11,441.58. The market’s previous high close was 11,388.82 set on Sept. 4, 2000.

Volume on the senior exchange was 249 million shares.

Eight of the 10 TSX main groups closed higher, with the materials sector up 1.87%.

The gold contract for February delivery moved up $13.60 to settle at US$532.50 an ounce, the highest closing level since April 1981.

Kinross Gold moved up 67¢, or 6.24%, to $11.41.

Crude oil futures closed at US$63.14 a barrel, gaining 3.4% on the session. Petro Canada gained $1.93, or 4.14%, to $48.58.

Germany firm ThyssenKrupp AG increased its takeover offer Dofasco Inc. to $4.9 billion, or $63 a share, matching a bid by Arcelor SA of Luxembourg. Dofasco fell 81¢, or 1.25%, to $64.17.

The Canadian dollar moved up 0.56 of a cent to US86.54¢.

The S&P/TSX Venture Exchange index finished up 37.92 points, or 1.70%, to 2,274.47.

In New York, markets climbed high on energy stocks and indications the Federal Reserve might soon be done raising its key funds rate.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 129.91 points, or 1.2%, to close at 10,847.41. The Nasdaq composite index rose 38.42 points, or 1.7%, to 2,243.74. The S&P 500 rose 20.51 points to 1,268.80.