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TSX ends up 0.6%, at 30,186.28

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Energy gains 2% as oil settles 5.6% higher

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Tech rises 2.1% as Shopify ( SHOP ) advances

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Retail sales grow by 1% in August

By Fergal Smith

TORONTO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Canada's commodity-linked

main stock index rose on Thursday as a sharp increase in the

price of oil boosted energy shares and investors shrugged off

mixed domestic retail sales data.

The S&P/TSX composite index ended up 203.30

points, or 0.6%, at 30,186.28, extending its recovery from an

11-day low on Tuesday.

It was helped by gains for the heavily weighted financial,

energy and materials sectors, as well as for Shopify ( SHOP ).

The e-commerce company has the largest market capitalization of

any company on the Toronto market.

"The three largest sectors and the largest company are all in

positive territory which has supported the TSX's move higher,"

said Kevin Headland, co-chief investment strategist at Manulife

Investments.

Canadian retail sales grew by 1% in August, matching

expectations, as consumers spent more on new cars, at

supermarkets and on clothing. An advance estimate for September

was less upbeat, showing a decline of 0.7%.

"Retail sales came out positive but overall the (economic)

landscape is not great," Headland said.

Investors are betting that a sluggish economy will prompt

the Bank of Canada to ease interest rates further at a policy

decision next Wednesday. Last month, the central bank lowered

its benchmark rate to a three-year low of 2.50%.

The energy sector advanced 2%, with shares of Cenovus

Energy ( CVE ) adding 3.1%. The price of oil settled

5.6% higher at $61.79 a barrel after the U.S. imposed sanctions

on major Russian suppliers.

Renewed political risk bolstered safe-haven demand for gold

. The precious metal was up 0.6%, while the materials

group, which includes metal mining shares, gained 1%.

Financials rose 0.5% and technology ended 2.1% higher.

Air Canada ( ACDVF ) is betting on business travel to support

an expansion of service from Toronto's downtown airport, with

new routes to the U.S., in a boost for cross-border flying

despite trade tensions between the two countries. Shares of the

airline were down 0.2%.