TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index ended a volatile session more than 250 points lower yesterday, as profit-taking hit energy issues, sparking a broad late-day sell-off following recent record highs.

After pushing higher earlier in the day, oil and gas companies reversed direction, even though crude prices hit a record over $133 a barrel on an unexpected drop in US stockpiles.

The energy group, whose heavy weighting has been largely responsible for the index's recent run-up, lost 1.5 percent.

"It looks like there's some profit-taking starting in the oils," said Lex Kerkovius, senior research analyst at McLean & Partners Wealth Management Ltd. in Calgary.

"Some of these oils that were really running hard are coming off from the morning," he said.

"When you get that kind of rise in commodities — fast, furious, quick — everyone wants to take some (money) off the table." Canadian Natural Resources was down C$1.43, or 1.4 percent, at C$103.93, while Suncor Energy slipped C$1.39, or 1.9 percent, to C$70.98.

Talisman Energy was down C$1.25, or 5 percent, at C$23.65 a day after it unveiled a significant revamp of its global oil and gas business, as well as an asset sale.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 256.97 points, or 1.71 percent, at 14,790.37 with all but one of its 10 main sectors lower. It was the largest one-day drop since the end of April.

Since last week, the benchmark has been roaring to record highs, surging above 15,000 on Tuesday for the first time.

Fertilizer company Potash Corp of Saskatchewan was the biggest decliner by weight yesterday, shedding C$9.70, or 4.8 percent, to C$192.00.

That drop helped the materials sector to a loss of 2.2 percent. Also in the group, Agrium was down C$4.15, or 4.7 percent, at C$83.78.

Financials, the biggest sector in the index, fell 1.5 percent. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was off C$1.90, or 2.6 percent, at C$71.51, and Toronto-Dominion Bank stumbled C$1.14, or 1.7 percent.