- The biggest contributor to the TSX gain was Royal Bank of Canada with 9.76 net index points. Financials <.SPTTFS> were the top sector contributor with 31.12 net points. 

- Leading the index were Ivanhoe Mines Ltd, up 5.9 percent, Aphria Inc, up 5 percent, and MEG Energy Corp, higher by 4.1 percent.

- Lagging shares were Dorel Industries Inc, down 7.3 percent, NovaGold Resources Inc , down 4.8 percent, and Element Fleet Management Corp, lower by 4.5 percent.

- On the TSX 143 issues advanced and 102 declined as a 1.4-to-1 ratio favored advancers. There were 16 new highs and one new low, with total volume of 203.5 million shares.

- The most heavily traded shares by volume were Bombardier Inc, Cenovus Energy Inc and Baytex Energy Corp.

- The TSX's energy group <.SPTTEN> rose 0.41 point, or 0.21 percent, while the financials sector <.SPTTFS> climbed 1.71 points, or 0.58 percent.

- West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 0.24 percent, or $0.17, to $69.89 a barrel [O/R]

- The TSX is off 2.5 percent for the year.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jonathan Oatis)