The Toronto Stock Exchange followed global markets in a surge higher on Thursday, after G20 leaders pledged an additional US$1 trillion to restore credit, growth and jobs around the world.

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 131.32 points, or 1.5%, to close at 9,073.14.

Energy stocks surged 4.4% as oil futures rallied nearly 9%. Crude oil for May delivery rose US$4.25, or 8.8%, to end at US$52.64 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Shares of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. jumped $2.61, or 5.1%, to $53.38 and Petro-Canada’s stock rose 4.8% to $36.02.

Suncor Energy Inc. advanced 5.1% to $30.00 and Husky Energy Inc. rose 4.4% to $28.46.

Also higher was Imperial Oil Ltd., up 2.8% to $48.00 and EnCana Corp., higher by 3% to $55.15.

Financial stocks also advanced, rising 2.5% during Thursday’s trading.

Shares of Manulife Financial Corp. surged 10.7% on very heavy trading volume. The shares closed at $16.69, up $1.61.

Power Financial Corp. shares rose 5.7% to $21.50 and IGM Financial Inc. saw its stock rise a sharp 9.5% to $33.11.

Shares of Sun Life Financial Corp. rose 2.8% to $24.26.

Meanwhile, the materials group suffered a 4.3% drop as gold futures retreated. Gold for April delivery fell US$18.70, or 2%, to end at US$907.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The sub-gold index plummeted 7.2%.

Shares of Barrick Gold Corp. dropped $2.78, or 6.5%, to $40.02 and Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. fell 8.2% to $67.50.

Also sharply lower was Goldcorp Inc., off $3.54, or 8.1%, to $40.46, and Kinross Gold Corp., down 9.5% to $21.25.

Higher for the day was Teck Cominco Ltd., up 4.4% to $8.14, and First Quantum Minerals Ltd, up 2.1% to $38.13.

Transportation giant Bombardier Inc. saw its shares climb $0.31, or 10.2%, to $3.35 after the company said it is cutting 10% of its aerospace division workers.

After the markets closed, Research in Motion reported that earnings jumped nearly 26% to $518.3 million in its fiscal fourth quarter. RIM shares closed at $60.99 on Thursday, up 5.7%.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index also advanced on Thursday, rising 8.18 points, or 0.8%, to close at 978.27.

The Canadian dollar continued to climb, gaining US1.29¢ to close at US80.59¢.

Stocks in New York enjoyed similar gains as investor sentiment benefited from the G20 economic stimulus plans.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 216.48 points, or 2.8%, to finish at 7,978.08.

The S&P 500 index gained 23.3 points, or 2.9%, to close at 834.38.

The Nasdaq composite index climbed 51.03 points, or 3.3%, to 1,602.63.

IE