A record surge in crude oil prices pushed Canada’s main stock index higher after some recent extreme volatility in response to COVID-19.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 449.10 points at 12,170.52.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 188.27 points at 20,087.19. The S&P 500 index was up 11.29 points at 2,409.39, while the Nasdaq composite was up 160.73 points at 7,150.58.

The Canadian dollar traded for US68.99¢ compared with an average of US68.98¢ on Wednesday.

The May crude contract was up US$5.08 at US$25.91 per barrel and the April natural gas contract was up five cents at US$1.65 per mmBTU.

The April gold contract was up US$1.40 at US$1,479.30 an ounce and the May copper contract was up 3.45 cents at US$2.19 a pound.