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TSX ends up 0.86% at 27.386.93

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Eclipses Monday's record high

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Tech sector gains 2.53%

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Couche-Tard jumps on scrapped takeover bid

(Updates at market close)

By Fergal Smith

July 17 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose to a

record high on Thursday, helped by gains for financial and

technology shares, as Alimentation Couche-Tard ( ANCTF ) abandoned a major

takeover bid and U.S. data pointed to economic resilience.

The S&P/TSX composite index ended up 233.96

points, or 0.86%, at 27,386.93, surpassing Monday's record

closing high.

"Market strength has been unexpected and pretty exceptional,

and that can be attributed to data that shows both Canada and

the U.S. are holding up despite ongoing tariff threats," said

Elvis Picardo, a portfolio manager at Luft Financial, iA Private

Wealth.

U.S. retail

sales rebounded more than expected in June, but some of the

increase likely reflected higher prices for some goods exposed

to tariffs.

Data on Friday showed Canada's economy added many more jobs than

expected in June, and the unemployment rate surprisingly dipped

to 6.9%.

"This rally has been relentless - hardly any pullbacks,"

Picardo said. "The fear of missing out currently dominates the

possibility that you may have some downside going into the

volatile summer months."

The technology sector rose 2.53%, with e-commerce

company Shopify Inc ( SHOP ) adding 6.43%. Financials

, which account for 33% of the TSX's weighting, was up

1.12%.

Alimentation Couche-Tard ( ANCTF ) pulled its $46 billion bid

to buy 7-Eleven's parent company Seven & i Holdings ( SVNDF ),

saying the Japanese retailer did not engage constructively on

the deal. Shares of the convenience store operator jumped 8.2%.

The materials group, which includes fertilizer

companies and metal mining shares, was a drag. It fell 0.11% as

gold and copper prices dipped.