CANADA STOCKS-TSX jumps to record high as safe-haven demand boosts gold

Updates at market close

By Fergal Smith

Jan 30 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose to a record high on Thursday, led by gains for technology and metal mining shares, as investors assessed U.S. corporate earnings and after safe-haven demand fostered by the threat of U.S. trade tariffs lifted the price of gold.

The S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended up 334.095 points, or 1.3%, at 25,808.25, eclipsing the record closing level it posted on Dec. 6.

The materials group, which includes fertilizer companies and metal mining shares, jumped 3.4% as the price of gold XAU= rose to a record high.

"Gold is certainly looking somewhat attractive if you're going into a period of economic uncertainty," said Michael Sprung, president at Sprung Investment Management.

Trump said he would likely decide by the end of the day whether to put a 25% tariff on imports of Mexican and Canadian oil that would take effect on Feb. 1.

Still, the energy sector rose 0.5% as the price of oil clawed back a small part of its recent declines. U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 settled 0.15% higher at $72.73 a barrel.

U.S. stocks also ended higher as investors digested a stack of key earnings reports, including some from high-flying technology companies.

The TSX's technology sector added 3.5%, with shares of Celestica CLS.TO jumping 14.3% after the electronics firm surpassed analysts' fourth-quarter profit expectations.

"A lot of these stocks that are selling at very lofty valuations could be very vulnerable," Sprung said. "We are trying to position ourselves more to where we think there's some relative safety, such as in financials and utilities."

Heavily weighted financials rose 0.7% and utilities added 1.7% as bond yields fell.

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3% to support the economy.