TORONTO (Reuters) - The benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange ended almost 50 points higher Tuesday, pulling out of an earlier dip as financials and energy issues offset weakness in materials stocks.The S&P/TSX composite index rose 49.85 points, or 0.4 percent, to end the day at 13,915.36, yet another record closing high.

The energy and financials sectors rose 0.64 percent and 0.46 percent, respectively, offsetting the resources-laden materials group, which slipped 0.57 percent.

The S&P/TSX 60 index of Canadian blue-chip names added 3.41 points, or 0.4 percent, to 794.45.

"I think the sentiment is still extremely positive," said Elvis Picardo, investment strategist at Northern Securities in Vancouver. "We seem to be on course for testing the 14,000 level next."

Energy shares got a boost from the price June crude, which rebounded 1.3 percent to settle at $62.26 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as new militant attacks on Nigeria's oil industry and fears of hurricanes this year in the Gulf of Mexico raised worries over supply.

However, gold futures slid lower as the US dollar strengthened against the euro, with June-delivery gold on the COMEX division of NYMEX easing $3 to close at $687.40.

Among Canadian energy names showing strength, EnCana added 73 Canadian cents, or 1.2 percent, to close at C$62.93 and Suncor Energy rose 73 Canadian cents, or 0.8 percent, to C$91.65.

John Kinsey, portfolio manager at Caldwell Securities in Toronto, said volatility is expected to continue on the TSX, largely because of its large exposure to commodities.

"The S&P/TSX now is almost 50 percent commodities, and commodities are volatile," he said. "The swing factor is the financials — they're about 30 percent."

Royal Bank of Canada rose 26 Canadian cents, or 0.4 percent, to close at C$59.12 and Toronto-Dominion Bank gained 50 Canadian cents, or 0.7 percent, to C$69.30.

Meanwhile, among mining names, zinc giant Teck Cominco gave up 45 Canadian cents, or 1 percent, to C$44.75 and Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. shed 65 Canadian cents, or 1.6 percent, to C$39.18.

Thomson Corp. fell C$1.46, or 3 percent, to C$45.77 after it outlined details of talks it has had with London-based financial data and news provider Reuters Group Plc regarding taking Reuters over in a US$17.6 billion deal.