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* TSX ends up 16.69 points, or 0.11 percent, at 15,634.94
* Index posts its highest close since May 8
* Seven of 10 main TSX groups gain
* TSX rises 2.8 percent in September
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose to a four-month high on Friday, ending the month with a 2.8 percent gain, as the heavyweight financials group climbed and BlackBerry Ltd BB.TO added to strong gains posted a day earlier.
The index gained 3 percent in the quarter and September's rally was the best performance for the TSX since July 2016. A rally in crude oil prices has helped boost energy shares, while financials have benefited from higher bond yields after the Bank of Canada raised interest rates for a second time and the Federal Reserve signaled it remained on track to hike again in December.
Combined, the financial and energy groups account for more than half of the Toronto market's weight.
Some of the most influential movers on the index on Friday were the shares of banks, which tend to see improved net interest margins as bond yields rise.
"A lot of (portfolio) managers want to show that they have good exposure to areas that have worked and are paying good dividends," said Sid Mokhtari, market technician and director, institutional equity research, at CIBC World Markets.
Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO climbed 0.6 percent to C$96.54, while the overall financials group ended up 0.4 percent.
Shares of BlackBerry Ltd BB.TO climbed 7.3 percent to C$13.95, building on a 12.7 percent advance on Thursday when the company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profit. RBC and CIBC on Friday raised their price targets on the stock.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended up 16.69 points, or 0.11 percent, at 15,634.94, its highest close since May 8.
Shares of Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO rose 2.3 percent to C$2.26 after the company sealed a deal to sell up to 50 Q400 turboprop planes to India's SpiceJet SPJT.BO . Pharmaceuticals International Inc VRX.TO gained 4.6 percent to C$17.88 after the company completed the sale of Inova Pharmaceuticals to Pacific Equity Partners and the Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG). of the index's 10 main groups gained ground. Energy was one of the sectors to retreat, falling 0.4 percent.
Still, the group has rallied 15 percent since late August.
U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 , which reached their highest intraday on Thursday since mid-April, settled up 11 cents at $51.67 a barrel. Inc OSB.TO , which produces wood-based panels used in the construction of new homes, ended down 7.5 percent at C$47.51 after BMO cut its rating on the stock to underperform.
Domestic data showed that gross domestic product was unchanged in July, ending eight consecutive months of growth.