TORONTO - The Toronto stock market closed higher after round of positive U.S. economic data, with signs of improvement in the jobs market and a shrinking trade deficit.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 49.94 points at 15,154.68.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 64.33 points at 18,076.27, the Nasdaq index rose 22.71 points to 5,099.23, and the S&P 500 advanced 4.47 points to 2,114.07.

On the commodity markets, the July crude contract was down $1.62 to US$59.64 a barrel and the August gold contract fell $9.50 to US$1,184.90 an ounce.

The loonie traded at 80.30 cents US, down 0.29 of a U.S. cent.