TORONTO, - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday by the most in five weeks, led by gains for Aritzia and metal mining shares, as weaker-than-expected domestic jobs data reduced expectations for Bank of Canada interest rate hikes.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index ended up 519.24 points, or 1.48%, at 35,664.62, marking its highest closing level in two weeks and its biggest advance since September 3.
* For the week, the index added 0.46% after two straight weeks of declines.
* "Markets didn't want to end three weeks down in a row." said Ben Jang, a portfolio manager at Nicola Wealth. "It's the same story - bad news for the economy, good news for valuations."
* Canada's economy shed 68,300 jobs in September and the unemployment rate edged up to 6.5%. Analysts had forecast a jobs gain of 9,200.