Toronto stocks dipped marginally lower Thursday, after several strong sessions, with the energy sector cooling off after recent strength.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 5.97 points, or 0.05%, to 12,335.68.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, with the energy index shedding 0.65%.

The benchmark December contract for light, sweet crude finished down $1.04 at US$60.36 a barrel.

Shell Canada Ltd. gained 6¢, or 0.14%, to $42.91.

The materials index was up 0.26%, but the gold sector fell 0.23% despite higher bullion prices.

The benchmark December contract for gold ended up $9 at US$599.80 an ounce.

Barrick Gold Corp. fell 27¢, or 0.78%, to $34.19.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index gained 15.21 points, or 0.61%, to 2,529.25.

In New York, markets were up on strong corporate earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 28.98 points at 12,163.66, the fourth-consecutive record close this week.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 22.51 points to 2,379.10, its best close in six-and-a-half year, and the S&P 500 Index moved up 6.86 points to 1,389.08, its highest finish in about six years.