(RTTNews) - Bay Street will look to finish up a topsy turvy week on a high note Friday, but data showing that the Canadian economy shed the most jobs in almost two years in June could darken the mood and keep investors on the sidelines.

Energy stocks are set to advance at the opening bell, bolstered by surging oil prices. With labor strife in Brazil and tensions between Iran and the West threatening supplies, the price of light sweet crude rose $3.46 to $145.15 a barrel in early electronic dealing.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index soared 133.04 points to 13,743.88 on Thursday, pulling away from Wednesdays 3-month closing low. Even with two triple-digit advances over the past four sessions, Toronto’s main index will need another stellar performance on Friday to finish the week in positive territory.

Market players are weighing the release of data showing that Canadian employers trimmed 5,000 jobs last month, driving the jobless rate to a 14-month high of 6.2 percent. Analysts were looking for employers to add 6,000 jobs and for unemployment to come in at 6.1 percent.

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