CANADA STOCKS-TSX nears three-year high on BlackBerry, U.S. data

    * TSX rises 56.79 points, or 0.40 percent, to 14,176.52 
    * Nine of 10 main index sectors advance 
    * BlackBerry jumps almost 4 percent after Facebook move 
    * TransCanada slips 1.8 percent 
 
    By John Tilak 
    TORONTO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose 
on Thursday to its highest in nearly 3 years as positive U.S. 
economic data boosted sentiment and Facebook Inc's    
planned acquisition of mobile-messaging service WhatsApp lifted 
BlackBerry   . 
    The move by Facebook raised investor hopes that BlackBerry's 
own messaging platform might have been undervalued. Shares of 
the smartphone maker jumped nearly 4 percent.    
    In the United States, Canada's main export market, 
manufacturing activity picked up its pace in February to record 
its fastest growth in nearly four years and separate data 
indicated that the number of Americans filing new claims for 
unemployment benefits fell last week.    
    "We think the U.S. will lead global growth," said Andy Nasr, 
managing director and senior portfolio manager at Middlefield 
Capital, of the recent wave of economic data. "It does make 
sense to stay closer to home. That's probably the message." 
     The Toronto market, which is benefiting from increased 
optimism for equities, climbed for a 12th straight session and 
has gained about 4 percent this year.  
    "You're starting to see more money flow into the energy 
sector and the materials sector," Nasr added. "That's creating a 
bit of enthusiasm for Canadian stocks." 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   was up 56.79 points, or 0.40 percent, at 14,176.52. 
Nine of the 10 main sectors on the index were higher. 
    Financials, the index's most heavily weighted sector, added 
0.4 percent. Royal Bank of Canada    rose 0.7 percent to 
C$72.86, and Toronto Dominion Bank    gained 0.6 percent to 
C$49.79.  
    The materials sector, which includes mining stocks, jumped 
1.7 percent. Barrick Gold Corp    shot up 3.6 percent to 
C$22.70, and Goldcorp Inc    gained 1.9 percent to C$30.06. 
    In other corporate news, TransCanada Corp    said it 
is considering how to proceed with its Keystone XL pipeline, a 
day after a court voided the Nebraska governor's decision to 
allow the controversial line to pass through the Midwestern 
state. The stock gave back 1.8 percent, to C$48.98. 
   
     
 
 (Editing by W Simon) 
 ((john.tilak@thomsonreuters.com)(1-416-687-7918)(Reuters 
Messaging: john.tilak.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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