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TSX ends up 0.7% at 21,942.16
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Posts its highest closing level since June 12
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Energy adds 1.3%; oil settles 1% higher
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BlackBerry up 10.5% on Q1 revenue beat
(Updates at market close)
By Fergal Smith
June 27 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose to a
two-week high on Thursday, with heavily weighted financials and
energy among the sectors to make headway in a broad-based move
as long-term borrowing costs eased and commodity prices climbed.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
ended up 148.26 points, or 0.7%, at 21,942.16, its
highest closing level since June 12.
"It's been a tough few weeks for the TSX, especially in
comparison with the S&P," said Christine Tan, a portfolio
manager at SLGI Asset Management Inc. "In the last couple of
days, we've seen the TSX come back a little bit."
The Toronto market was still on course to post a monthly
decline, with the index down 1.5% since the beginning of June.
U.S. benchmark the S&P 500 has advanced 3.9% over the same
period.
"Our managers are really waiting to see what the earning
season looks like and more importantly what guidance sounds like
before we really get a good sense where the TSX is headed," Tan
said.
All 10 major sectors on the Toronto market ended higher,
including a gain of 1.3% for energy as the price of oil
settled 1% higher at $81.74 a barrel.
Gold also rallied. That helped lift metal mining
stocks, with the materials group gaining 0.4%.
Financials added 0.6%, while technology was up 1.4%, helped
by a 10.5% gain for the shares of BlackBerry Ltd ( BB ) after
the company beat first-quarter revenue estimates.
Bond yields eased as U.S. economic data showed a continued
slowdown in activity. That helped boost interest rate sensitive
stocks, with real estate adding 1.6% and utilities up 0.7%.
MDA Space Ltd ( MDALF ) shares jumped 13.5% after the company
was awarded a contract to design and deliver a space robotics
system.