File photo: The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index posted its first back-to-back rally since the COVID-19 crisis began to hit stocks last month as stimulus measures appear set to become a reality in Canada and the U.S.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 568.15 points, 4.5%, at 13,139.28.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 495.64 points at 21,200.55. The S&P 500 index was up 28.23 points at 2,475.56, while the Nasdaq composite was down 33.56 points at 7,384.29.

The Canadian dollar traded for 69.92 cents US compared with an average of 69.01 cents US on Tuesday.

The May crude contract was up 48 cents at US$24.49 per barrel, and the May natural gas contract was down 1.5 cents at US$1.71 per mmBTU.

The April gold contract was down US$27.40 at US$1,633.40 an ounce and the May copper contract was up 2.4 cents at US$2.20 a pound.