(Adds portfolio manager comment, updates prices to close)
* TSX ends up 34.83 points, or 0.24 percent, at 14,600.66
* Eight of the TSX's 10 main groups rise
* Index gains 0.8 percent on week, highest close since July 2015
By Alastair Sharp
TORONTO, July 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index hit its highest close in a year on Friday, notching a fourth straight weekly gain as yield-producing telecom and utility stocks found favor, offsetting a plunge in shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) VRX.TO .
Valeant fell 6.2 percent to C$30.03 after U.S. regulators raised concerns about a new eye drop the company manufactures. climbed 1.3 percent, with Rogers Communications Inc RCIb.TO extending post-earnings gains with a 2.1 percent advance to C$56.81. rivals, which have not yet reported second-quarter numbers, also gained, with Telus Corp T.TO adding 1.6 percent to C$43.96 and BCE Inc BCE.TO up 0.6 percent to C$63.15.
The utilities sector rose 0.7 percent.
Both sectors feature many stocks that pay dividends, making them attractive to investors searching for yield.
"Even though the index is up, it seems like there is some defensive positioning going on," said Youssef Zohny, portfolio manager at StennerZohny Investment Partners+ in Vancouver. "We're taking a more protective stance to hang onto gains," he added.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE settled up 34.83 points, or 0.24 percent, at 14,600.66. That was its highest close since July 17, 2015.
Eight of the index's 10 main groups finished in positive territory, with four advancers per three decliners.
Celestica Inc CLS.TO , a contract electronics manufacturer, jumped 8.5 percent to C$14.28 after reporting earnings after the bell on Thursday. Energy Inc HSE.TO rose 3.1 percent to C$15.89 as after Canada's No. 3 integrated oil company rushed to clean up an oil spill after earlier in the day reporting a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss on lower production costs. overall energy group rose 0.6 percent despite a fall in crude oil prices CLc1 LCOc1 as glut fears grow. O/R
Thursday saw the kickoff of oil and gas earnings season with Encana Corp ECA.TO and Precision Drilling Corp PD.TO planning to boost activity.