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Canada stocks rise, Garda to acquire McKinnon

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Canadian stocks headed into positive territory Friday, with the S&P/TSX benchmark index adding 73.4 points, or 0.7%, at 11,500, on relief that Chinese economic data met expectations. Buoying the market was a 1% climb in the materials sector , and even greater 1.2% rise in metals mining stocks . Top percentage gainers among commodity companies included NovaGold Resources , up 6.5%, and Second Wave Petroleum , climbing 5%. Shares of Montreal-based Garda World Security Corp. rose almost 3%, after announcing a subsidary of the company would acquire privately held security company McKinnon Services. The greenback fell against its Canadian counterpart , with one U.S. dollar purchasing C$1.0141 vs. C$1.0196 Thursday.