CANADA STOCKS-TSX hits 2-1/2-year high as resources gain after jobs data

    * TSX rises 75.92 points, or 0.56 percent, to 13,705.33 
    * Eight of the 10 main index sectors advance 
    * Saputo up after company extends offer for Warrnambool 
 
    By John Tilak 
    TORONTO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
climbed to its highest in 2-1/2 years on Friday after 
weaker-than-expected jobs reports in North America boosted 
commodity prices, helping push up natural resource shares. 
    Prices of gold, oil and other commodities gained on 
speculation that soft U.S. employment figures for December would 
push the U.S. Federal Reserve to delay winding down its monetary 
stimulus program.  GOL/   O/R  
    Government data showed the Canadian economy lost 45,900 jobs 
last month, resulting in a higher unemployment rate and raising 
expectations that the Bank of Canada might trim interest rates. 
   
    The United States recorded the weakest jobs growth in about 
three years in December, with some indications that severe cold 
weather had an impact.    
    "It's a double whammy," said Shailesh Kshatriya, associate 
director for client investment strategies at Russell Investments 
Canada.  
    "It was a horrible number. There's no way to sugarcoat it," 
he said of the Canadian jobs report. The data, coupled with 
sluggish trade numbers and high household indebtedness, points 
to a slight weakening of the Canadian economy, he added. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   was up 75.92 points, or 0.56 percent, at 13,705.33, 
after rising as high as 13,708.78, its highest level since 
mid-2011. 
    "We do think that the TSX has room to move higher, but  
there will be a lot of volatility," Kshatriya said. 
    Eight of the 10 main sectors on the index were higher. 
    Gold-mining shares jumped 3.6 percent. Goldcorp Inc    
added 4.6 percent to $25.43, and Barrick Gold Corp    
advanced 3.4 percent to C$19.89. 
    Shares of energy producers were up 0.7 percent. Canadian 
Natural Resources Ltd    rose 2 percent to C$35.82, and 
had the biggest positive influence on the index. Suncor Energy 
Inc    gained 1.2 percent to C$37.74. 
    In company news, Saputo Inc    extended its offer for 
Australia's Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Co 
  . Saputo's stock firmed 0.2 percent to C$49.13. 
    ($1=$1.09 Canadian) 
 
 (Editing by Peter Galloway) 
 ((john.tilak@thomsonreuters.com)(1-416-687-7918)(Reuters 
Messaging: john.tilak.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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