* The Toronto Stock Exchange's TSX rises 0.93 percent to 18,501.47
* Leading the index were Vermilion Energy Inc VET.TO , up 10.5%, Aphria Inc APHA.TO , up 9%, and Sprott Inc SII.TO , higher by 6.8%.
* Lagging shares were Altus Group Ltd (Ontario) AIF.TO , down 5.5%, Northland Power Inc NPI.TO , down 4.0%, and Empire Company Ltd EMPa.TO , lower by 3.4%.
* On the TSX 155 issues rose and 57 fell as a 2.7-to-1 ratio favored advancers. There were 20 new highs and no new lows, with total volume of 231.2 million shares.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Manulife Financial Corp MFC.TO , Suncor Energy Inc SU.TO and Crescent Point Energy Corp CPG.TO .
* The TSX's energy group .SPTTEN rose 2.42 points, or 2.1%, while the financials sector .SPTTFS climbed 6.03 points, or 1.8%.
* West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 rose 2.66%, or $1.63, to $63.3 a barrel. Brent crude LCOc1 rose 2.66%, or $1.74, to $67.11 O/R
* The TSX is up 6.1% for the year.