The Toronto Stock Exchange’s benchmark index set a record high close on Tuesday, as resource shares climbed.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 124.55 points, or 0.83 %, at 15,068.83, surpassing the previous record high close of 15,047.34, set last month.

Seven of the 10 TSX main sectors finished higher.

The resource-laden materials sector rose 1.7 %.

Potash Corp was the biggest net gainer, rising $8.36, or 3.6 %, to $244.03, while Agrium was up $4.70, or 4.3 %, to $113.00.

The energy sector rose 1.3 %, even though oil prices finished lower on Saudi Arabia’s plans to increase crude output. Crude oil for July delivery closed 60¢ lower at US$134.01 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Canadian Natural Resources added $2.17, or 2.1 %, to $106.92, and Canadian Oil Sands Trust added $1.05, or 2 %, to $54.85.

Among individual stocks, Air Canada gained 29¢, or 3.3 %, to $9.13 after it said it will slash 2,000 jobs and cut capacity amid soaring fuel prices.

BCE Inc. shares rose after the Supreme Court of Canada delayed a ruling on whether to approve or reject the $34.8 billion buyout of the telecom company. BCE closed up $1.52, or 4.5 %, at $35.05.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index added 1.96 points, or 0.07%, to finish at 2,683.03.

The Canadian dollar closed at US$98.32¢, up from Monday’s close at US97.80¢.

In New York, stocks fell after a major brokerage warned that U.S. banks would have to raise as much as US$65 billion in capital to shore up balance sheets weakened by the mortgage crisis.

Goldman Sachs warned the global credit crisis will not peak until 2009 and lowered its price targets for 14 banking companies.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 108.78 points, or 0.89%, at 12,160.30. The S&P 500 finished down 9.21 points, or 0.68%, at 1,350.93. The Nasdaq composite index ended the session down 17.05 points, or 0.69%, at 2,457.73.