* The Toronto Stock Exchange's TSX rises 0.13 percent to 17,968.60 

* Leading the index were BlackBerry Ltd , up 18.6%, Ballard Power Systems Inc, up 9.3%, and Vermilion Energy Inc, higher by 8.5%.

* Lagging shares were Trillium Therapeutics Inc, down 4.4%, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc, down 3.4%, and Fortuna Silver Mines Inc, lower by 3.4%.

* On the TSX 109 issues rose and 106 fell as a 1-to-1 ratio favored advancers. There were 6 new highs and no new lows, with total volume of 171.3 million shares.

* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Blackberry Ltd, Aphria Inc and Alimentation Couche-tard Inc.

* The TSX's energy group rose 2.03 points, or 2.1%, while the financials sector slipped 1.33 points, or 0.4%.

* West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 1.22%, or $0.64, to $53 a barrel. Brent crude  rose 2.01%, or $1.1, to $55.85 [O/R]

* The TSX is up 3.1% for the year.