TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Stock Exchange’s main index ended nearly 100 points higher boosted by energy issues, which rose on fresh Middle East tensions, as well as by strength in financials and materials.The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 98.02 points, or 0.8 percent, at 13,237.66, and ended the week with a 3.2 percent rise.

“I think what we’re getting is a follow-through from the Federal Reserve from Wednesday,” said Julie Brough, assistant vice-president at Morgan Meighen & Associates.

The Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady, as expected, but signalled it may be softening its credit-tightening bias, which helped send the TSX up 178.14 points, or 1.4 percent on Wednesday.

“What it comes down to is we look like we have a solid US economy,” Brough added.

“We are very dependent on the US economy; we are a commodity-based nation. If growth in the US is strong than that’s going to support commodity prices.”

Energy shares rose 1.2 percent as US crude continued to add to Thursday’s rally, moving above $62 a barrel after Iranian forces seized 15 British Royal Navy personnel in the Persian Gulf. Canadian Natural Resources rose C$1.24, or two percent, to C$62.43, while EnCana climbed 64 Canadian cents, or 1.1 percent, to C$58.

Overall, eight of the TSX index’s 10 main groups were higher. The information technology and health care sectors were down 0.1 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

The financial services sector, which makes up about a third of the index’s weight, rose 0.6 percent. Royal Bank of Canada gained 65 Canadian cents, or 1.1 percent, to C$58.47.

The materials group was also on the rise, gaining 0.8 percent. Goldcorp climbed 73 Canadian cents, or 2.6 percent, to C$28.90.

“I think there’s been a bit of a sentiment shift,” said Lex Kerkovius, senior research analyst at McLean & Partners Wealth Management in Calgary. “At least we’re getting the early indications of it.”