Toronto stocks ended higher on Wednesday, buoyed by strength in the technology and energy sectors. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 27.69 points at 7,117.29.

The information technology sector climbed 2.7%,, while the energy sector rose 0.8% higher.

Nortel rose 34¢, or 8.3%, to $4.43, while Cognos climbed $1, or 2.6%, to $39.

Hummingbird failed to join the tech rally. The software company said late on Tuesday a slow economy could force delays in closing major deals. The stock closed down $1.52 at $26.93.

The gold group slipped 0.3% as bullion prices tread water ahead Thursday’s European Central Bank interest rate decision.

Shares of gold producer Placer Dome Inc. were down 13¢ at $16.06.

The junior TSX Venture composite index rose 7.83 points to 1,115.14.

In New York, U.S. blue chips declined as investors locked in profits after two sessions of gains. The tobacco sector was one of the day’s big losers as Altria sank almost 6%.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished down 66.88 points, at 9,156.21. The broader S&P 500 Index slipped 5.62 points to 1,002.22. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index crept up 1.06 points to 1,747.52.