(Updates at market close)

* TSX ends up 0.2% at 34,471.36

* Posts highest closing level since March 2

* Tech adds 1.6%, with BlackBerry up 18.5%

* For the week, the index advances 1.9%

By Tharuniyaa Lakshmi and Fergal Smith

May 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index took

another step toward the record closing high it posted nearly

three months ago as investors increased their focus on

high-flying technology shares and awaited quarterly earnings

from Canada's major banks.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite Index

ended up 61.87 points, or 0.2%, at 34,471.36, marking

the highest closing level since the index posted an all-time

peak on March 2. It touched a record intraday high of 34,574.87

and was up 1.9% for the week.

* Wall Street's main indexes also rose, with the

blue-chip Dow hitting a record high for the first time since the

Iran war began as investors tracked progress in talks to end the

conflict.

* "The market focus has shifted more toward what's happening

in the tech world," said Allan Small, senior investment advisor

of the Allan Small Financial Group with iA Private Wealth.

* The technology sector rose 1.6%, with shares of

systems software company BlackBerry jumping 18.5%.

* Industrials were up 0.5% and heavily weighted

financials ended 0.3% higher. Financials have advanced

12.1% since the start of 2026.

* "Long undervalued, the Canadian banks have come roaring

back and face a test at the halfway point of the fiscal year,"

said Derek Holt, head of capital markets economics at

Scotiabank.

* Canada's major banks are due to begin reporting quarterly

earnings on Wednesday.

* Among the sectors that lost ground was materials

, which includes metal mining shares. It fell 0.6% as

the price of gold declined.

* Shares of CAE fell 13.6% even after the flight

simulator company reported quarterly revenue that beat analyst

estimates.

* Domestic data showed that retail sales grew by 0.9% in

March, beating expectations, primarily led by sales at gasoline

stations and fuel vendors.