Toronto stocks closed higher Thursday, after three consecutive negative sessions, as oil and gold prices rebounded.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 28.26 points, or 0.24%, to 11,765.33.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were up, with the energy sector advancing 0.55%. The crude futures contract rose 45¢ to settle at $60.47.

Canadian Natural Resources gained 62¢, or 0.98%, to $64.01.

The materials sector moved down 0.37%, despite a lift in the price of bullion. Gold for April delivery ended up $2.70 at $547 an ounce.

Goldcorp. Inc. gained 19¢, or 0.64%, to $29.75.

In corporate news, Canadian Western Bank announced a first-quarter profit of $16.4 million, a 35% gain over last year. Shares gained $1.10, or 2.87%, to $39.40.

In economic news, Statistics Canada reported a trade surplus of $6.3 billion for January, down $1.4 billion from December.

The Canadian dollar declined 0.38 of a cent to close at US86.10¢.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index gained 15.53 points, or 0.61%, to 2,565.87.

In New York, stocks were lower on news of a growing U.S. trade deficit.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 33.46 points to 10,972.28, the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 17.74 points to 2,254, and the S&P 500 Index dropped 6.24 points to 1,272.23.