Canadian oil producer Imperial Oil posted a rise in first-quarter profit on Friday, driven primarily by stronger margins in its refining and fuel sales business, sending its U.S.-listed shares up nearly 6% before the bell.

Canadian producer Imperial Oil booked a higher net income for the first quarter from a year earlier as industry refining margins improved.

Shares of Imperial Oil Ltd. IMO rallied 1.22% to C$95.06 Friday, in what proved to be an all-around favorable trading session for the Canadian market, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index GSPTSE rising 0.