Toronto stocks ended slightly higher Monday, after spending most of the session in negative territory, as the energy sector largely offset a positive day across the broader market.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 7.78 points, or 0.06%, to 13,065.15.

Nine of the 10 TSX main groups were up, but the energy index fell 0.78%.

Light, sweet crude futures dropped $1.14, or 1.9%, to US$58.91 a barrel.

Canadian Natural Resources lost 7¢, or 0.11%, to $60.93.

The materials sector gained 0.64%, while the gold sector moved ahead 1.03%, despite a lower closing price for bullion. Gold for April delivery finished down $1.70 at US$650.30 an ounce.

Agnico-Eagle Mines moved up 93¢, or 2.15%, to $44.16.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index climbed 7.39 points, or 0.24%, to 3,135.08.

The Canadian dollar was up 0.16 of a cent to US85.46¢.

In New York, markets moved higher, despite continued concern over the subprime mortgage market, on the strength of merger and acquisition announcements.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 42.30 points to 12,318.62, the S&P 500 Index nudged ahead 3.75 to 1,406.60, while the Nasdaq composite index advanced 14.74 at 2,402.29.