Strength in energy issues kept Toronto stocks higher Thursday morning. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 14.01 points, or 0.15%, at 9,176.37.

Energy stocks were up 0.83% to lead all sectors as several oil and gas companies reported stronger quarterly earnings.

Shares of Petro-Canada rose 60¢, or 0.9%, to $64.55, EnCana gained 86¢, or 1%, to $74.08, and Canadian Natural Resources (rose $1.15, or 2%, to $55.15.

Suncor shares fell 7¢, or 0.17%, to $40.03 as higher oil sands royalties took some glitter away from its profit report.

The sector also got support as oil prices rose toward US$50 a barrel as traders braced for potential disruptions ahead of Iraq’s elections

The industrials group followed with a 0.68% gain. Six of the 10 TSX groups were higher.

A 1.3% decline by the information technology sector kept the market’s gain in check, triggered largely by news that Sierra Wireless Inc. expects to report an unexpected first-quarter loss and a huge drop in sales.

Shares of Sierra Wireless (plummeted $6.24, or 35%, to $11.56, while Research In Motion handed back $2.07, or 2.3%, to $86.88.

In New York, U.S. blue-chip stocks fell as disappointing earnings from companies including Dow component Caterpillar and higher oil prices weighed on investors after two days of solid advances.

However, gains by network equipment maker Cisco Systems helped the tech-dominated Nasdaq and Standard & Poor’s 500 indexes reverse early losses.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 24.55 points, or 0.23%, at 10,474.64. The S&P 500 was up 2.30 points, or 0.20%, at 1,176.37. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was up 5.50 points, or 0.27%, at 2,051.60.