CANADA STOCKS-TSX strengthens after Crimea vote, U.S. data

    * TSX rises 63.66 points, or 0.45 percent, to 14,291.32 
    * All of 10 main index sectors advance 
    * Bombardier jumps after contract win 
 
    By John Tilak 
    TORONTO, March 17 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
advanced on Monday, helped by gains in every major sector, after 
a referendum in Crimea concluded peacefully over the weekend and 
positive U.S. economic data boosted sentiment. 
    Investors digested news that the United States and European 
Union will impose sanctions including asset freezes and travel 
bans on officials from Russia and Ukraine after Crimea applied 
to join Russia following the referendum.    
    Separately released data showed the largest gain in U.S. 
manufacturing output in six months in February and an expansion 
in factory activity in New York state in March.    
    Also providing support was a 4.6 percent jump in shares of 
Bombardier   , after South Africa's Transnet awarded the 
plane and train maker a contract, which it shared with General 
Electric    and two Chinese firms, to supply over 1,000 
trains, as part of a $28 billion expansion plan.    
    While the Toronto market firmed after a decline in the 
previous week and is up about 5 percent this year, investors 
remained cautious.  
    "Today is more of a relief rally than anything else," said 
John Ing, president of Maison Placements Canada.  
    "This is going to be a chronic worry. There is no resolution 
in sight," he said about the situation in Ukraine. "The market 
volatility will continue." 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   was up 63.66 points, or 0.45 percent, at 14,291.32. 
All of the 10 main sectors on the index were higher. 
    Financials, the index's most heavily weighted sector, added 
0.5 percent, with Toronto Dominion Bank    climbing 0.7 
percent to C$51.59. 
    The surge in Bombardier and gains in some rail operators 
helped lift the industrials group, which was up 1.2 percent. 
Canadian National Railway Co    rose 1.3 percent to 
C$62.79. 
    But gold-mining shares, which are part of the broader 
materials sector, gave up some of their recent gains, slipping 
0.8 percent. Goldcorp Inc    lost 0.9 percent to C$31.56, 
and Barrick Gold Corp    slipped 0.6 percent to C$23.06.  
     
 
 (Editing by Nick Zieminski) 
 ((john.tilak@thomsonreuters.com)(1-416-687-7918)(Reuters 
Messaging: john.tilak.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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