Toronto stocks ended a four-session losing streak Tuesday. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 46.90 points, or 0.52%, to 9,125.10.

Volume was heavy at 301 million shares.

Nine of the 10 TSX groups finished higher.

The industrials sector rose 1.6% to lead all groups, while the energy sector chipped in with a 0.6% gain.

Canadian National Railway led industrials higher as investors bought the stock ahead of a fourth-quarter earnings statement that showed a sharp jump in profit. CN also announced a dividend increase after the market close.

Shares of CN Rail rose $3.06, or 4.5%, to $71.21, while Canadian Pacific Railway gained $1.19, or 3%, to $41.50.

Energy shares rose as the price of oil jumped to its highest level in eight weeks and flirted with US$50 a barrel.

EnCana gained $1.34, or 1.9%, to $72.16, while Canadian Natural Resources rose 87¢, or 1.7%, to $53.39.

Imperial Oil, which upped its quarterly profit nearly 70% because of surging oil and gas prices, rose $2.19, or 3%, to $74.49.

Imperial posted record annual net income on Tuesday as its profits hit $2.05 billion on higher prices for oil and stronger refining margins.

The heavily weighted financial group advanced 0.43%.

Among financial issues, TSX Group Inc. reported a stronger fourth-quarter profit, and said it would raise its quarterly dividend.

TSX shares closed up $1.80, or 3.1%, at $60.05 before the news was released.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index slipped 2.73 points to 1,804.07.

On Wall Street, U.S. stocks also closed higher, spurred by positive earnings reports and a stronger-than-expected reading on consumer confidence.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended up 92.95 points, or 0.90%, at 10,461.56. The S&P 500 was up 4.66 points, or 0.40%, at 1,168.41. The Nasdaq composite index was up 11.25 points, or 0.56%, at 2,019.95.