CANADA STOCKS-TSX steady after economic data, records monthly gain

    * TSX falls 5.15 points, or 0.04 percent, to 14,209.59 
    * Six of 10 main index sectors decline 
    * Index up about 3.8 percent this month 
    * Mega Brands jumps after takeover bid 
 
    By John Tilak 
    TORONTO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was 
little changed on Friday as data showing economic growth in 
North America helped drive gains in the energy sector, while 
gold-mining shares were dragged down by a weaker gold price. 
    The TSX, nevertheless, recorded its strongest monthly gain 
since October, rising 3.8 percent in February.  
    The Toronto market has outperformed the S&P 500    so 
far this year, rising about 4.3 percent, following a selloff in 
January triggered by concerns about emerging market growth. 
    Government data released on Friday showed that Canadian 
economic growth beat market expectations in the fourth quarter 
of 2013. In the United States, data indicated the world's 
biggest economy grew at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the fourth 
quarter.       
    "I think the market is going higher here," said Marcus Xu, 
portfolio manager at MY Capital Management Corp in Vancouver. 
"The bull market is still intact, the trend is still there." 
    "This year is going to be very volatile," added Xu, who 
expects the benchmark Canadian index to climb about 8 percent in 
2014. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   closed down 5.15 points, or 0.04 percent, at 
14,209.59. Six of the 10 main sectors on the index were in the 
red. 
    Gold-mining shares dropped 1.1 percent, with Barrick Gold 
Corp    declining 2 percent to C$22.56. The price of spot 
gold    fell 0.5 percent on Friday. 
    Financials, the index's most heavily weighted sector, were 
little changed. Royal Bank of Canada    slipped 0.6 percent 
to C$71.95, but Toronto Dominion Bank    gained 0.8 percent 
to C$50.16. 
    Shares of energy producers rose 0.8 percent. Canadian 
Natural Resources Ltd    advanced 0.4 percent to C$40.52, 
and Encana Corp    added 0.6 percent to C$21.00. 
    In corporate news, toymaker Mattel Inc    said it 
agreed to buy Mega Brands Inc    for about $460 million, 
including debt. Shares of Mega Brands jumped 35.6 percent to 
C$17.72.    
     
 
 (Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Leslie Adler) 
 ((john.tilak@thomsonreuters.com)(1-416-687-7918)(Reuters 
Messaging: john.tilak.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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