Toronto stocks posted modest gains Friday, as the energy sector liftedthe broader market, despite falling oil prices.

The S&P/TSX composite index inched ahead 7.02 points, or 0.06%, to 12,372.87.

For the week, the benchmark index recorded a slight gain of 32 points.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, but the energy index rebounded 0.78% after falling 1.93% in yesterday’s session. December crude-oil futures lost 45¢ to close at US$55.81 a barrel.

The materials index dipped 0.08% lower, and the gold sector fell 0.18%.

December futures contract for bullion closed up 80¢ at US$622.50 an ounce.

Yamana Gold fell 33¢, or 2.66%, to $12.09.

The information technology sector gained 0.70%. CGI Group Inc. gained 16¢, or 2.12%, to $7.72.

The industrials sector was also weak, down almost 1%. Air Canada’s share kickoff was weak in the first day of trading after an IPO of $21 a share. Class A shares fell $1.25 to $19.75, with 11 million shares changing hands .

Transcontinental Inc., the parent company of Investment Executive, won a 15-year contract worth over $1 billion to print the San Francisco Chronicle daily newspaper and related products. Its shares headed up 73¢ to $21.03.

The Canadian dollar was down 0.35 of a cent to US87.22¢.

The S&P/TSX Venture Exchange dipped 4.21 points, or 0.16%, to 2,613.58.

In New York, the Dow posted another record day on strong corporate reports, despite a fresh report on weakness in the U.S. housing sector.

Housing starts fell 14.6% in October, while building permits dropped 6.3%, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 36.74 points to 12,342.56, a fresh record high. The S&P 500 Index rose 1.44 point to 1,401.20. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 3.20 points to 2,445.86.

For the week, all three indices registered gains: the Dow by 1.9%, the S&P 500 by 1.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite 2.3%.