A smaller-than-expected increase in U.S. crude inventories along with supply disruptions in Libya helped lift U.S. crude futures $1.14, or 2.4 percent, to $49.51 a barrel. [O/R]

Canadian Natural Resources (>> Canadian Natural Resources Limited) was the biggest lift on the Canadian stock index, rising 2.4 percent to C$43.86, followed by Suncor Energy (>> Suncor Energy Inc.), which was up 1.5 percent at C$42.05. The energy sector <.SPTTEN> as a whole rose 2.2 percent.

Investors on Bay Street also shrugged off the official start of Britain's divorce from the European Union.

That suggests the market could be more resilient to geopolitical factors than had been anticipated after only a muted market response to U.S. Republican leaders pulling legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system last week, said Bryden Teich, portfolio manager at Avenue Investment Management in Toronto.

"There's more of a floor to the market than people had been giving credit to," Teich said.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> closed up 59.06 points, or 0.38 percent, at 15,657.63.Of the index's 10 main groups, seven were in positive territory.

Materials stocks also helped support the market, with the sector <.GSPTTMT> up 0.7 percent. Shares of Teck Resources (>> Teck Resources Ltd) were up 1.8 percent at C$29.54 after the company reconfirmed its annual production guidance.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (>> Toronto-Dominion Bank) shares edged up 0.4 percent at C$66.13 the day before executives were set to face shareholders after media reports which suggested branch staff were pressured to meet sales targets.

Bank stocks have rallied in recent sessions, though the sector <.SPTTFS> is still down 1.6 percent since the report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was first published this month.

(Reporting by John Tilak in Toronto and Leah Schnurr in Ottawa; Editing by James Dalgleish)