* TSX up 79.00 points, or 0.61 percent, at 13,016.59
* All 10 of the TSX's main groups were higher
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose
on Thursday, led by energy stocks despite a nearly seven-year
low for crude oil, while the information technology and
materials groups also outperformed in a broad-based rally.
"It seems like some bargain hunters are coming in on the
energy sector and it's helping the market," said Youssef Zohny,
portfolio manager at StennerZohny Investment Partners of
Richardson GMP Ltd.
Weak crude oil prices are creating opportunities for
long-term investors in the oil and gas sector, the chief
executive of one of Canada's 10 biggest pension funds said.
Energy stocks rose 1.2 percent, led by a 3.5 percent gain
for Canadian Natural Resources CNQ.TO to C$29.96. TransCanada
Corp TRP.TO rose 2.0 percent to C$44.68.
The information technology group surged 2.9 percent, paced
by a 7.7 percent gain for BlackBerry Ltd BB.TO to C$10.76.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
.GSPTSE closed up 79 points, or 0.61 percent, at 13,016.59,
with all 10 of the index's main groups in positive territory.
Financials were up just 0.1 percent after paring earlier
gains.
Weak economic growth and a potential credit bubble are
headwinds for the sector, according to Zohny.
"Even though earnings for financials have been pretty good,
people are looking forward and potentially seeing some risks to
their earnings and to the sector," he said.
Cenovus Energy Inc CVE.TO fell 1.8 percent to C$18.35. The
company said it expected to reduce its capital budget by 19
percent in 2016 in response to tumbling crude prices.
Dollarama Inc DOL.TO was one of the biggest drags on the
index for a second straight day, falling 5.3 percent to C$77.37
after a number of brokers cut their price targets. On Wednesday,
it fell more than 7 percent after reporting quarterly results.
U.S. crude CLc1 prices settled at $36.77 a barrel, down
1.1 percent, having hit a nearly seven-year low of C$36.52.
Brent crude LCOc1 lost 1.5 percent to $39.52. O/R