Toronto stocks closed higher Friday, buoyed by ongoing strength in the energy sector. The C$ burst through par against its U.S. counterpart before settling modestly above yesterday’s close.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 101.64, or 0.73%, to 13,940.07.

The C$ closed up 0.04 cent US at 99.91 cents US.

Eight of the 10 TSX main sub-groups finished higher on the session.

The energy index gained 1.25%.

Imperial Oil Ltd. rose $1.50, or 3.05%, to $50.70.

Light sweet crude for November delivery lost 16 cents US to US$81.62 a barrel.

The materials group gained 0.42%, while the gold sub-index fell 1.01%.

Gold futures fell US$1 to close at US$738.90.

Kinross Gold Corp. gained 24 cents, or 1.58%, to $15.46.

The S&P TSX Venture Exchange gained 17.39, or 0.62%, to 2,818.24.

In New York, stock prices closed higher as investors cheered strong corporate earnings reports.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 53.49, or 0.39%, to 13,820.19.

The Nasdaq composite index moved up 16.93, or 0.64%, to 2,671.22, and the S&P500 advanced seven points, or 0.46%, to 1,525.75.