TORONTO (Bloomberg) — Canadian stocks rose for the first time in four days as energy producers including EnCana Corp. advanced on higher oil prices.“The energy sector still looks good,” said Ian Nakamoto, director of research at MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier in Toronto, which manages about $3.2 billion. “Energy stocks have been lagging the market. With stocks near an all-time high, people will buy the laggards. Oil prices will stay higher — the economy is still growing.”

A report showing a bigger-than-expected rebound in retail sales in the US increased optimism about the North American economy and lifted consumer shares such as Tim Hortons Inc.

The Standard & Poor’s/TSX Composite Index added 51.84, or 0.4 percent, to 12,910.32 in Toronto. It had slipped for three days since reaching a record December 7. The benchmark’s up 15 percent in 2006.

EnCana, Canada’s largest natural-gas producer, rose 80 cents to C$60.99. Suncor Energy Inc., the world’s biggest oil-sands miner, jumped C$1.84 to C$92.24.

A measure of energy stocks, which accounts for more than a quarter of the S&P/TSX’s value, climbed 1 percent. It has risen 5.4 percent this year so far, compared with a 15 percent gain for the financial group.

Oil prices surged after a report showed supplies of crude oil fell 4.3 million barrels to 335.4 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 8. Supplies were expected to drop 1.3 million barrels, according to the median estimate of 15 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Crude oil for January delivery gained 0.6 percent to $61.37 a barrel in New York.

Tim Hortons, Canada’s biggest doughnuts and coffee chain, climbed 88 cents to C$34.44. Magna International Inc., Canada’s largest car-parts maker, rose C$1.43 to C$92.11.

Royal Bank of Canada, the country’s biggest lender by assets, fell 35 cents to C$54.64. Smaller rival Toronto-Dominion Bank lost 43 cents to C$67.42.

Earlier Royal Bank reached an all-time high. Many of the six biggest banks are near records after this month reporting fourth-quarter earnings that all beat analysts’ estimates.