CANADA STOCKS-TSX ekes out gain, on track for 1 pct rise on week

 (Adds portfolio manager comment, updates prices) 
    By Alastair Sharp 
    TORONTO, March 21 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
pushed marginally higher on Friday and was on track for a 1 
percent gain for the week, as gold miners recovered along with 
the price of bullion and retailers rose after regulatory 
approval for a major takeover in the sector. 
    Investors took some solace 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. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   was up 8.78 points, or 0.06 percent, at 14,370.61 
after an hour of trade. At that level, the index was on track 
for a 1 percent gain for the week. 
    "You've got a rally going on in copper and gold, so the 
copper stocks are up and some of the golds are off the bottom 
from yesterday, that's helpful," ABC's Michael added. 
    Goldcorp Inc   , one of the world's largest producers of 
the precious metal, added 0.7 percent to C$30.19, while 
diversified miner Teck Resources    notched up a 0.9 
percent gain to C$23.16. 
    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 3.3 percent 
to C$47.77 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 1.8 percent to C$61.69. 
 
 (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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