Canada's main stock index began the week by posting a gain of more than 130 points, fueled by strength in energy stocks, while U.S. markets also rose.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 131.71 points, or 0.68 per cent, at 19,519.43.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 382.60 points, or 1.2 per cent, at 32,244.58. The S&P 500 Index was up 34.93 points at 3,951.57, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 45.03 points at 11,675.54.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.13 cents U.S. compared with 72.81 cents U.S. on Friday.

The May crude contract was up 89 cents at US$67.82 per barrel and the April natural gas contract was down 12 cents at US$2.22 per mm/BTU.

The April gold contract was up US$9.30 at US$1,982.80 an ounce and the May copper contract was up six cents at US$3.95 a pound.