Investing.com – Canada stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Materials , IT and Clean Technology sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Toronto, the S&P/TSX Composite added 0.49%.

The best performers of the session on the S&P/TSX Composite were Aya Gold & Silver Inc (TSX: AYA ), which rose 6.99% or 0.83 points to trade at 12.70 at the close. Meanwhile, Stantec Inc (TSX: STN ) added 6.83% or 8.19 points to end at 128.12 and Fortuna Mining Corp (TSX: FVI ) was up 6.25% or 0.39 points to 6.63 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were National Bank of Canada (TSX: NA ), which fell 5.47% or 6.97 points to trade at 120.47 at the close. Spin Master Corp (TSX: TOY ) declined 3.64% or 1.02 points to end at 27.00 and Enerflex Ltd . (TSX: EFX ) was down 3.41% or 0.41 points to 11.61.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Toronto Stock Exchange by 555 to 376 and 107 ended unchanged.

Shares in Stantec Inc (TSX: STN ) rose to all time highs; gaining 6.83% or 8.19 to 128.12. Shares in Spin Master Corp (TSX: TOY ) fell to 3-years lows; losing 3.64% or 1.02 to 27.00.

The S&P/TSX 60 VIX , which measures the implied volatility of S&P/TSX Composite options, was down 4.12% to 13.50.

Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.51% or 14.92 to $2,933.72 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April fell 0.20% or 0.14 to hit $68.79 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract fell 0.34% or 0.25 to trade at $72.25 a barrel.

CAD/USD was unchanged 0.23% to 0.70, while CAD/EUR unchanged 0.11% to 0.67.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.22% at 106.46.