Mining and energy stocks pushed Toronto markets higher Monday, although weak financials held back gains ahead of tomorrow’s federal budget.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 111.52 points, or 0.82%, at 13,697.45.

Six of the ten major TSX groups gained ground.

The energy group moved up 2.34%, as crude for April delivery gained 42¢, or 0.4%, to settle at $99.23 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The materials group gained 1.17%

Shares in Silver Wheaton Corp. shares gained 24¢, or 1.48%, to close at $16.44, after it announced Q4 profit rose to US$24.9 million from US$23.8 million.

The gold sub-index, however, dropped 1.30%. as gold for April delivery pulled back $7.30 to end at $940.50 an ounce on the Nymex.

Barrick Gold Corp. shares fell $1.31, or 2.59%, to finish at $49.32.

The heavyweight financials group dipped 0.25%.

Shares of Addenda Capital Inc. gained $4.86, or 22.71%, to end at $26.26 after the investment management firm agreed to be acquired by Co-operators Group Ltd. in a $306.5 million deal.

Sun Life Financial shares fell 87¢, or 1.81%, to end the day at $47.08.

In individual stocks, BCE Inc. shares gained 61¢, or 1.70%, to close at $36.50, as concerns hit the market that the proposed $52-billion takeover of the company by a private equity consortium may not meet ownership.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index closed up 29.09 points, or 1.10%, to end the day at 2,686.24.

The Canadian dollar closed out at parity with the U.S. dollar.

In New York, markets rallied late afternoon on news that S&P affirmed its AAA ratings on bond insurers MBIA Inc. and Ambac Financial Group Inc.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained nearly 200 points in afternoon trading. It closed up 189.20 points, or 1.53%, at 12,570.22.

The S&P 500 gained 18.69 points, or 1.38%, to end the session at 1,371.80.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 24.13 points, or 1.05%, to finish at 2,327.48.

Electronic Arts Inc. announced it is continuing with its all-cash offer of US$26 a share, or about US$2 billion, for New York City-based Take-Two, despite a snub from the smaller firm.