CANADA STOCKS-TSX up 0.75 pct on week; energy bucks broad decline

 (Adds investor comment, updates prices to close) 
    By Alastair Sharp 
    TORONTO, March 21 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
ended slightly lower on Friday but many energy stocks gained as 
crude prices rose on the possibility of Russian supply 
disruptions, while retailers benefited after regulatory approval 
for a major takeover in the sector. 
    The otherwise broad decline capped weekly gains at 0.75 
percent in cautious end-of-week trade. 
    "Energy stocks have been the focus really since the Russian 
annexation" of Crimea, said John Ing, president of Maison 
Placements Canada.  
    Cenovus Energy    jumped 2 percent to C$30.55 and 
Talisman Energy Inc    gained 1.4 percent to C$11.34, as  
fresh Western sanctions on Russia renewed fears of a supply 
disruption from the world's second-largest oil producer.  O/R  
    Investors took some solace earlier from domestic data that 
showed February inflation within the central bank's target range 
and retail sales that bounced back in January.     
    "It's a sigh of relief on the inflation and retail numbers, 
which were a little higher," said Irwin Michael, portfolio 
manager at ABC Funds, of a minor morning rally. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   ended the session down 26.07 points, or 0.18 percent, 
at 14,335.76.  
    Heavyweight banks and railways that had risen earlier in the 
week pared those gains to provide much of the weight. 
    Goldcorp Inc    and Barrick Gold Corp   , two of 
the world's largest producers of the precious metal, ended 
slightly lower after strong starts even as bullion gained. 
    "Gold is trying to mount a rally, it was a muted rally," 
Maison's Ing said. 
    Diversified miner Teck Resources    notched up a 3.1 
percent gain to C$23.68. 
    Goldcorp and other gold miners had dipped earlier in the 
week as anxiety eased over the Ukraine crisis, which had added 
to gold's safe-haven appeal.    
    Grocery store chain Loblaw Cos Ltd    jumped 1.7 percent 
to C$47.01 after a competition watchdog approved its C$12.4 
billion ($11 billion) bid for pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart 
Corp   .  ID:L2N0MI0PJ   
    Shares in Shoppers rose 0.9 percent to C$61.18. 
    Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp    gained 5.5 percent to 
C$19.09. Bloomberg cited unnamed sources as saying the Latin 
American oil producer was considering its strategic options. 
 
 (Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by James Dalgleish and 
Sophie Hares) 
 ((alastair.sharp@reuters.com)(+1 416 941 8118)(Reuters 
Messaging: alastair.sharp.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 

 
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