CANADA STOCKS-TSX clings to small gain despite Ukraine anxiety

    * TSX up 16.01 points, or 0.11 percent, at 14,225.60 
    * Oil and gold shares rise with commodity prices 
 
    By Leah Schnurr 
    TORONTO, March 3 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
firmed slightly on Monday as resource shares piggybacked higher 
on rising oil and gold prices in reaction to heightening tension 
between Russia and Ukraine. 
    Ukraine said Russia was gathering armored vehicles on its 
side of a narrow stretch of water closest to Crimea after 
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared over the weekend that 
Russia had the right to invade his neighbor to protect Russian 
interests and citizens.    
    Materials and energy sectors led the way higher on the 
Toronto Stock Exchange. A search for safety in tense times 
pushed gold prices higher, and crude    was up nearly $2 a 
barrel at $104.45 as investors worried over the impact the 
Ukraine crisis would have on oil supplies. Russia is one of the 
world's biggest oil producers.  
     "The only thing that's holding us in here is oil at 
$104.50," said Paul Taylor, investment strategist for BMO Harris 
Private Banking in Toronto. 
    "It's definitely a risk-off day," he said. 
    Among the day's gainers, Suncor Energy    rose 1.2 
percent to C$36.97, while Barrick Gold    gained 2.3 
percent to C$23.07. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   was up 16.01 points, or 0.11 percent, at 14,225.60. 
    Shares of Goldcorp    jumped after Osisko Mining 
   said it agreed to settle its lawsuit against Goldcorp 
and would allow Goldcorp to conduct due diligence in connection 
with its hostile takeover bid for Osisko.    
    Goldcorp gained 3.3 percent to C$30.76, while Osisko climbed 
6.1 percent to C$7.48.  
    Magna International    rose 2.1 percent to C$100.62 
after the auto parts supplier reported a higher quarterly profit 
and raised its dividend.    
    ($1=$1.11 Canadian)  
 
 (Editing by Peter Galloway) 
 ((leah.schnurr@thomsonreuters.com)(+1 416 941 8103)(Reuters 
Messaging: leah.schnurr.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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