(Adds portfolio manager quotes, details on index's performance,
updates prices)
* TSX closes up 65.02 points, or 0.47 percent, at 13,951.45
* Four of the TSX's 10 main groups end higher
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, April 29 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose
to a six-month high on Friday as mining stocks surged on higher
gold and base metal prices, while shares of its largest airline
jumped after quarterly results were reported.
The index ended 3.4 percent higher for the month of April,
while it has rebounded 21 percent from an almost 3-1/2-year low
in January, but it has been unable to climb back above 14,000.
Improving prices in commodities have helped drive the index
higher both year-to-date and on Friday, said Noman Ali, a
portfolio manager at Manulife Asset Management.
The index has rallied 7.2 percent year-to-date, which
contrasts with losses for many major markets.
There is room for the index to rally further as fundamentals
for the energy sector improve and as fear of credit losses
lessens for financials, said Ali.
The most influential movers on the index included Barrick
Gold Inc ABX.TO , which jumped 10.3 percent to C$24.29, and
First Quantum Minerals Ltd FM.TO , which surged 16.7 percent to
C$10.69 after it reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly
profit on Thursday.
The materials group, which includes precious and base metals
miners and fertilizer companies, added 5.4 percent.
Gold and silver rallied to their highest since January 2015
as the Bank of Japan's decision the previous day to hold off
expanding monetary stimulus weighed on the dollar, while base
metal prices also advanced. GOL/ MET/L
Spot gold XAU= rose more than 2 percent.
Air Canada AC.TO rose 12.7 percent to C$9.33 after it
reported a first-quarter profit compared with a loss a year
earlier, helped by a decline in fuel costs.
The energy and financials groups both edged 0.1 percent
higher.
Oil prices dipped after an early rise to 2016 peaks. U.S.
crude CLc1 settled at $45.92 a barrel, down 0.24 percent.
O/R
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
.GSPTSE closed up 65.02 points, or 0.47 percent, at 13,951.45.
It touched its highest since Oct. 23 at 13,972.62.
Just four of the index's 10 main groups ended higher.
Railway stocks were a drag, including a 1.8 percent decline
in Canadian National Railway Co CNR.TO to C$77.26.
Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO fell 7.4 percent to C$1.89, as some
of this week's gains were pared. The dual class share structure
is vital to protect the long-term interests of the Quebec-based
company, Executive Chairman Pierre Beaudoin said.
Uranium producer Cameco Corp CCO.TO CCJ.N fell 4.7
percent to C$15.70 after reporting an unexpected first-quarter
adjusted loss as uranium prices continued to soften.