Toronto stocks ended higher on Friday as technology shares rallied. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 54.57 points, or 0.59%, to 9,358.28.

For the week, the index rose 2.4%.

Nine of the 10 TSX main groups closed higher.

The information technology group rose 1.6% to lead all sectors, while health-care issues followed with a 1.5% gain.

Tech stocks rose following a brokerage upgrade to the semiconductor sector.

Research In Motion gained $4.11, or 4.5%, to $96.51, while Nortel Networks rose 4¢, or 1%, to $3.96.

Earnings reports drove much of the day’s trade.

Shares of Noranda dropped 10¢, or 0.45%, to $21.99 after the copper and zinc miner missed estimates, though it nearly tripled its quarterly profit.

Dofasco shares got the same treatment as it posted a sharply higher profit, but missed estimates and offered tepid guidance for 2005. The stock closed down $1.95, or 4.4%, at $42.05.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index rose 13.89 points, or 0.77%, to close at 1,827.40.

A weaker than expected jobs report helped keep Canadian market gains in check.

Statistics Canada said the economy lost 5,700 jobs in January, compared with expectations for a gain of 15,000

On Wall Street, the weaker than expected U.S. jobs report gave stocks a lift because it eased concerns about faster interest-rate hikes.

The U.S. economy generated 146,000 new jobs in January, below market expectations for 190,000.

Markets also got a lift from a rise in Tobacco stocks after a U.S. appeals court rejected the U.S. government’s bid to force cigarette makers to pay billions of dollars in past profits as part of its racketeering case against the industry.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 123.03 points, or 1.16%, to 10,716.13. The S&P’s 500 Index was up 13.14 points, or 1.10%, at 1,203.03. The Nasdaq composite index was up 29.02 points, or 1.41%, at 2,086.66.

All three gauges rose for a second straight week. The Dow ended up 2.8%, the S&P rose 2.7% and Nasdaq climbed 2.5%.