The Toronto stock market was higher Monday as investors largely brushed aside data that indicated China's economic growth rate has slowed slightly.
The S&P/TSX composite index galloped ahead 80.44 points to greet noon at 13,968.65, within shouting distance of the psychologically-important 14,000 mark.
The Canadian dollar slid 0.02 cents, to 91.20 cents U.S.
TSX advancers were led by the tech sector, with BlackBerry ahead 96 cents, or 9.6%, to $10.94, on top of a 6% advance Friday after Citron Research issued a note approving the company's recent strategic direction and raised its stock target to $15 U.S.
Elsewhere, Open Text gained $1.82 to $100.96 ahead of the company posting earnings on Thursday.
The battered gold sector continued to make gains, as Barrick Gold improved 46 cents to $21.07 while Iamgold ran ahead 14 cents to $4.59.
The base metals sector was ahead as March copper shed a penny to $3.34 U.S. a pound. Nevsun Resources added 13 cents to $4.22.
Financials were also supportive as Royal Bank climbed 55 cents to $72.41.
The energy sector was slightly higher and oil prices were lower. Cenovus Energy was up 21 cents to $29.74.
Economically speaking, China's economy narrowly missed expectations for growth to hit 14-year lows in 2013, though some economists say a cooldown will be inevitable this year as officials and investors hunker down for difficult reforms.
Back home, it is a busy week on the Canadian economic calendar with manufacturing shipments for November out Tuesday, November retail sales on Thursday and the December reading on inflation on Friday.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange remained positive 2.82 points to 979.16.
All 14 Toronto subgroups gained ground by noon ET, with information technology surging 2.3%, gold shining 1.6% brighter, and materials leaping 1.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
Markets in the United States are closed for Martin Luther King Day
Oil prices moved lower by 80 cents to $93.57 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices advanced four dollars to $1,255.90 U.S. an ounce.
