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TSX ends up for ninth straight day

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Posts highest closing level since Dec. 11

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Materials group gains 0.9% as gold rises

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Energy falls 1.1%; oil posts weekly decline

(Updates at market close)

By Fergal Smith

Jan 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index ended

higher for a ninth straight day on Friday, helped by gains in

gold-mining shares, as the prospect of strong U.S. economic

growth under the Trump administration outweighed expected trade

tariffs.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index

ended up 34.41 points, or 0.1%, at 25,468.49, its

highest closing level since Dec. 11.

The daily winning streak was the longest since October 2021.

For the week, the index added 1.5%.

"We're going to end the week positive for the TSX despite

some of the noise or concerns around tariffs," said Christine

Tan, a portfolio manager at SLGI Asset Management Inc.

"So far it does look like the market is focused more on the

positive aspects of having a large trading partner that is going

to be focused on growth."

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a private-sector

AI infrastructure investment plan and has proposed cutting taxes

as well as loosening regulations. Trump has also threatened

sweeping trade tariffs on trade partners, including a 25% tax on

Canadian goods.

The materials group, which includes fertilizer companies and

metal mining shares, rose 0.9% as the price of gold climbed.

Consumer discretionary was up 0.8% and technology added

0.5%.

Energy was a drag, falling 1.1%, as the price of oil

posted a weekly decline.