Canada’s main stock index posts a triple-digit advance to outpace falling U.S. markets as the energy sector led despite further softness in crude oil prices.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 156.18 points at 14,7798.29.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 32.23 points at 24,101.55. The S&P 500 index was down 15.09 points at 2,863.39, while the Nasdaq composite was down 122.43 points at 8,607.73.

The Canadian dollar traded for US71.54¢ compared with an average of US71.¢ on Monday.

The June crude contract was down 44 cents at US$12.34 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was up 3.2 cents at US$1.95 per mmBTU.

The June gold contract was down US$1.60 at US$1,722.20 an ounce and the July copper contract was roughly unchanged at nearly US$2.35 a pound.