Canadian Stocks On Rare Win Streak -- Canadian Commentary

(RTTNews) - Canadian stocks rose for a second day Thursday despite lingering anxiety about the global economy and low commodity prices.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index added 79 points to close Thursday at 13,016.59.

Energy stocks continued to fight back even though crude oil prices touched their lowest since February 2009.

January oil settled at $36.76/bbl on Nymex, down 40 cents, or 1.1%. OPEC says it will maintain production levels to cripple non-OPEC competitors.

Mining stocks also rose, trimming heavy recent losses.

Gains were particularly pronounced among health care and tech stocks. Blackberry (BB.TO) shares surged up 7.7 percent amid reports of strong sales of its Priv.

Gauges of all sectors were in the green.

SNC-Lavalin (SNC.TO) has bee cleared to bid on federal contracts despite charges. Shares were up 2 percent.

Cenovus Energy Inc (CVE.TO) said it expects to trim its expenditures by 19% due to low oil prices. Shares rose 1.7 percent.

Integrated Asset Mgt(IAM.TO) nmed Tom Felkai CFO, effective January 1. Shares rose 4 percent.