The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday on the first trading day of 2025 as a jump in commodity prices boosted energy and metal mining shares. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that Wall Street see-sawed to a lower close. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 170.09 points at 24,898.03, its highest closing level since Dec. 17. For 2024, Toronto is up nearly 18 per cent, its biggest yearly advance since 2021; it was down 3.6 per cent in December as a hawkish shift by the Federal Reserve contributed to an increase in long-term U.S. borrowing costs. "Much like a surprise holiday guest, December's market shift was uninvited and unplanned," said Greg Taylor, chief investment officer of Purpose Investments. "We may be entering a new normal with more moderate returns and higher volatility. Tactical strategies and hedging will be key to navigating this period." Energy was up 1.6 per cent as the price of oil settled nearly 2 per cent higher at $73.13 (U.S.) a barrel after a pledge by Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote economic growth. The price of gold also rose, which boosted metal mining shares. The materials group added 3.3 per cent. Financials ended lower.