(Adds portfolio manager quotes, details on U.S. jobs data; updates prices)
* TSX ends up 120.00 points, or 0.78 percent, at 15,469.91
* Index posts its highest close since May 23
* Eight of the TSX's 10 main groups end higher
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, June 1 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday to a more than one-week high in a broad rally led by energy and financials, while BlackBerry Ltd BB.TO jumped after an influential investment firm said the technology company's stock could double.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE closed up 120.00 points, or 0.78 percent, at 15,469.91, its highest close since May 23.
It was buoyed by optimism that acceleration in U.S. economic growth will help the outlook for Canada's economy, said Peggy Bowie, senior trader at Manulife Asset Management.
U.S. factory activity rose in May, according to data on Thursday. was among the most influential gainers, climbing nearly 8 percent to C$15.42 after Citron Research said it had a 24-month price target of $20 on expectations that BlackBerry will profit from the increasing application of its security and other software technology in various industries, such as automotive.
"The underlying feeling is that our market has a lot to offer, people just have to look at the right things," Bowie said.
The price of oil, a key Canadian export, was steady a day after diving 2.7 percent on higher OPEC crude output.
U.S. crude oil prices CLc1 settled up 4 cents at $48.36 a barrel, helped by an industry report showing that U.S. stockpiles had fallen more than expected. O/R
Energy rose 1.1 percent, with Enbridge Inc ENB.TO the most influential advancer in the group, rising 1.3 percent to C$52.67.
The financials group gained 0.7 percent, helped in part by Element Fleet Management Corp EFN.TO , which rebounded after Wednesday's losses related to unfounded speculation that it was a short-selling target of hedge fund Muddy Waters.
Asanko Gold Inc AKG.TO fell 7.8 percent to C$2.02 a day after Muddy Waters said it was shorting the company's stock. vehicle maker BRP Inc DOO.TO shares surged 12.7 percent to C$37.03 after it reported a much stronger-than-expected quarterly result and announced a quarterly dividend and share repurchase. of the index's 10 main groups ended higher.
Materials, home to precious and base metals miners, slipped 0.3 percent, pinched by the price of gold, which dipped 0.5 percent to $1,265.7 an ounce GCc1 after the U.S. data boosted the greenback, and nickel prices fell to an 11-month low on concerns of excess supply. GOL/ MET/L
Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO fell 1.8 percent to C$21.95, while dairy producer Saputo Inc SAP.TO was down 3.8 percent at C$43.37 after reporting lower-than-expected quarterly profit.