Commodities propped up Toronto markets again on Wednesday, as financials were weak and grim economic data out of the U.S. made investors anxious.

The S&P/TSX Composite index closed up 69.64 points, or 0.52%, at 13,391.86.

Six of the 10 major TSX groups gained today.

The financials group lost 1.42% as the Bank of Montreal shares sank $1.93, or 4.11%, to $45. Royal Bank of Canada shares were down $1.20, or 2.47%, to close at $47.43 and CIBC shares were down $1.20, or 1.78%, to end at $66.20.

Shares in investment management firm AGF Management Ltd. shares gained 55¢, or 2.71%, to close at $20.87, after it announced a rise in revenues and Q1 profit of $62.7 million.

The heavyweight energy group helped keep markets in the black, gaining 2.39%.

Crude for May delivery moved ahead US$4.68, or 4.6%, to finish at US$105.9 on the Nymex.

Talisman Energy Inc. shares gained 88¢, or 5.25%, to close at $17.64. Encana Corp. shares gained $1.63, or 2.17%, to close at $76.88.

The materials group gained 1.85%, while the gold sub-index gained 2.09%.

However, Yamana Gold Inc. shares lost 60¢, or 3.48%, to close at $16.65 on a heavy day of trading, after it announced Q4 profit of US$47.1 million.

Goldcorp shares gained 59¢, or 1.45%, to close at $41.29 and Barrick Gold Inc. shares moved up $2.15, or 4.87%, to end at $46.30.

Gold for April delivery gained US$14.20, or 1.5%, to close at US$949.20 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index closed down 1.99 points, or 0.08%, to close at 2,527.54.

The Canadian dollar closed out at US98.15¢.

In New York, markets were pushed down by economic data showing losses in durable goods orders, an indicator of business spending.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 109.74 points, or 0.88%, to end at 12,422.86. The S&P 500 shed 11.86 points, or 0.88%, to close at 1,341.13.

As well, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index lost 16.69 points, or 0.71%, at 2,324.36.