Toronto stocks declined Wednesday, despite a positive day in most sectors, as falling resource prices weighed down the broader market.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 59.14 points, or 0.51%, to 11,557.25.

Volume on the senior exchange was 326 million shares.

Eight of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were up, but the energy sector fell 2.29% and the materials group was off 1.42%.

The benchmark March contract for crude oil was last down $1.92 at US$57.65 in New York trading as a U.S. report indicated higher-than-expected crude inventory.

Petro Canada lost $1.24, or 2.35%, to $51.54.

EnCana Corp., reported a fourth-quarter profit of $2.37 billion, an 8% decline from the same period last year. EnCana lost 40¢, or 0.84%, to $47.35.

Gold for April delivery ended down $6.20 at US$542.70 an ounce.

Bema Gold Corp. gained 10¢, or 2.22%, to $4.40.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index finished down 21.48 points, or 0.87%, to 2,437.12.

In New York, lower energy prices and the new Fed Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s first address to Congress boosted markets.

The Dow Jones industrial average moved up 30.58 points at 11,058.97, the Nasdaq Composite Index closed up 14.26 points at 2,276.43, and the S&P 500 gained 4.47 points to 1,280.00.