Stocks Little Change For The Week, Gold Shimmers -- Canadian Commentary

(RTTNews) - Canadian stocks ended a topsy turvy week little changed Friday, as another strong showing among gold stocks offset weaker financials.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 10 points, or 0.08 percent, to 12,763.99.

Miners leveled off after huge gains in the previous session, while energy stocks withstood a big drop in oil prices.

Somewhat downbeat economic news from both sides of the border had investors in a jittery mood, as reflected in appetite for gold.

The Gold Index jumped 5.5 percent, as gold prices held near 4-month highs.

Canada lost 5,700 jobs in January and the economy's unemployment rate inched up to 7.2 percent.

In the US, non-farm payroll employment climbed by 151,000 jobs in January compared to economist estimates for an increase of about 188,000 jobs.

Still, the unemployment rate still edged lower to 4.9 percent and hourly wages were up.

In corporate news, Genworth MI Canada (MIC.TO) announced a 14 percent increased profit for the fourth quarter.

Saputo Inc. (SAP.TO) released earnings for its third quarter that rose 13 percent from last year.

BlackBerry (BB.TO) cut 200 jobs in the US and Canada.