North American stock markets posted solid gains Friday, pushing benchmark indices to their highest levels in several years.

In Toronto, the S&P/TSX composite index rose 67.67 points to close at 9,927.20. That’s the highest it’s been since October 2000.

For the week, the TSX rose 1.9%.

Strength in commodity-related stocks continued to drive the Toronto market. The energy sub-index was up 1.2%; golds were up 1.4%; mining advanced 1.8%.

Oil futures remained above the US$53-a-barrel level, up 21¢ to US$53.78. Petro-Canada, EnCana, Imperial Oil, Nexen, and Shell Canada set new 52-week highs.

Gold futures gained $4.30 to US$435.20 US an ounce.

The only noticeable weakness in Canadian stocks came from the health care sector. Biovail accounted for much of that weakness – down $1.84 to $19.64 – after U.S. regulators said they were widening their probe of Biovail’s accounting.

DVD-maker Cinram saw its shares shoot up $1.60 to $23.85 after it released quarterly results that topped analysts’ expectations.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index climbed 12.47 points, or 0.62%, to end at 2,037.77.

The Canadian dollar surged almost nine-tenths of a cent to US81.26¢ as the U.S. dollar lost ground against most major currencies.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average pushed into territory not seen since June 2001. The Dow ended the day up 107.52 points to 10940.77.

The S&P 500 closed at its highest since July 2001, finishing up 11.65 points, or 0.96%, at 1,222.12.

The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 12.21 points, or 0.59 percent, to close at 2,070.61.

For the week, the Dow advanced 0.91%, the S&P 500 was up 0.89%, while the Nasdaq rose 0.25%.

Before the markets opened Friday, the U.S. Labor Department reported 262,000 jobs were added to American payrolls in February. That was 37,000 above consensus.