Canada's main stock market started the trading year 2019 higher in a volatile day which saw the key energy sector rise due to higher oil prices.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index rose 24.30 points, or 0.17 percent, to close the day at 14,347.16 points.

The Canadian dollar recovered 0.24 cents to 0.7363 U.S. dollar.

On the market, 135 issues rose while 102 issues fell. There were two new highs and two new lows, with a total volume of 260.0 million shares.

The energy group rose 2.55 points, or 1.85 percent while the financials sector climbed 0.55 points, or 0.2 percent.

Among the energy stocks, Canadian Natural Resources rose 39 cents to 33.33 Canadian dollars while Suncor climbed 15 cents to 38.28 Canadian dollars.

Among the financials group, RBC edged up 15 cents to 93.59 Canadian dollars while TD Bank gained 42 cents to 68.28 Canadian dollars.

Health care stocks also led a small crop of gaining subgroups as Aphria gathered 29 cents to 8.14 Canadian dollars while Canopy Growth advanced 7 percent to 39.17 Canadian dollars.

The most heavily traded shares by volume were Barrick Gold Corp., Aurora Cannabis Inc. and Bombardier Inc.

Barrick Gold Corp. fell 62 cents to 17.81 Canadian dollars on 46.9 million shares. Aurora Cannabis Inc. rose 31 cents to 7.09 Canadian dollars on 9.8 million shares. Bombardier Inc. added 10 cents to 2.13 Canadian dollars on 8.9 million shares.